Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Sproul host annual “Shop with the Sheriff” helping underprivileged kids
ALBANY, Ga. – For 25 years, this has been Sheriff Kevin Sproul’s favorite day: “Shop With the Sheriff.”
To take nearly 50 local kids out for lunch and help them do some Christmas shopping.
We got to sit down with the retiring sheriff about this year’s event…Even if it is a little bittersweet.
“To see the happiness, to see the joy, to see the smiles on his kids face and to see it when they come to the front to have their gifts wrapped; that means the world to me,” said Sheriff Kevin Sproul, Dougherty County Sheriff.
Feeding the kids and taking them Christmas shopping year in and year out is one of the many things Sheriff Sproul has done in the community over the years.
It’s part of the legacy Sproul has wanted to leave behind beyond the call to protect and serve.
“This is an opportunity for these kids to see us in action up close and personal. To get to meet us and us get to meet them and to be able to show them how much we do care about them and how important they really are. Because we are god’s children and god don’t make mistakes. We try to relay that to the kids and let them know they are important,” said Sheriff Sproul.
Sheriff Sproul also tells us about the impact he and the sheriff’s office have had reaching out to community over the years.
“And, you see them three, four, or five, ten years later, and you see them now married with kids, or they’ve taken advantage of the opportunities given to them and to see them excel in life. That’s what it’s about,” said Sheriff Sproul.
But, more than anything, Sheriff Sproul wants one thing to be his legacy to the community…
“And, I want these kids to know that we do care about them, that no matter what card you were dealt at birth, you’re still valuable and still important. You can still be somebody,” said Sheriff Sproul.
And, before he retires, Sheriff Sproul gave the kids one last piece of advice that’s guided him through his career in law enforcement: Have fun. Play hard. And… Stay focused.
Sheriff Sproul will be succeeded by sheriff-elect, Terron Hayes.
Brian Roche reporting.
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