The Excelsior Springs Police Department is preparing for its 10th annual Shop With a Cop event Dec. 16. Sgt. Samantha Nash-St. John explained the event has been ongoing since 2013, and this year marks her fifth year of involvement with the program. The Shop with a Cop event, according to Nash-St. John, “helps the children see us differently. “They get to have fun,” she said, “and we’re not there in uniform in direct, authoritative nature.” She explained various city school and police department staff helped with the event, including herself, Corporal Justin Linard, Court Administrator Taran Svoboda, Police Records Supervisor Amanda Day, Officer John Miles, Officer David Griffin, Officer Andrew Stott, dispatcher Marissa Gregorwich, Officer Kristina Baxter, Deputy court clerk Jenni Creason, Sergeant Brian Kennedy, Officer Jo Robertson, Officer Trevor Chaffee, Corporal Payden Thornton, Lieutenant Jeremiah Renne, Police Chief Greggory Dull, Sergeant Kyle Craven, Corporal Josh Hyatt…