The Dysart Police Department’s 9th annual Shop with a Cop youth participants pictured in the Dysart Community Center on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, alongside Tama County Detective Trevor Killian (far left), DG Elementary Principal Derek Weber (center back), DG special education associate Jacquelyn Obrosk (back row, second from right), DG special education associate Maribel Garcia (back right), and DG special education associate Shiana Foster (front right). PHOTO COURTESY OF JEREMY STENDA

DYSART – “We have the best folks here in Dysart and Tama County, I truly mean that,” Dysart Police Officer Jeremy Stenda posted to social media shortly before Christmas following his department’s successful 9th annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ event that took place on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.

“The youth will always be our top priority as a law enforcement agency,” he continued. “Focusing on the present and future, we want our current and future youth members to know we are here for a genuine reason. There are no hidden agendas, we simply care and forever value our relationships with the community and our young bucks.”

This year’s Shop with a Cop sponsors included Harper’s Public House and KE Black Mercantile – both downtown Dysart businesses provided “fantastic food,” Stenda said. “Each year they step up supporting this event, we are forever grateful.”

Financial support for this year’s event was courtesy of a Walmart grant along with donations by the Dysart Lions Club and anonymous donors. “You all make this happen,” Stenda said in reference to the event’s financial backers. “Words cannot express our gratitude towards you.”

Volunteer helpers this year included Dysart-Geneseo Elementary Principal Derek Weber along with several special education associates. Stenda thanked them as well: “We couldn’t ask for a better school district to be paired up with, hands down the best in Iowa (legitimate true statement).”

To end his post, Stenda gave a shout-out to the Tama County Sheriff’s Office while highlighting the participation of Detective Trevor Killian.

“This will be Detective Trevor Killian’s final Shop with a Cop as he will be retiring in the summer of 2026,” Stenda said. “I personally value our relationship as co-workers and the friendship we have outside of the job. l will miss him as a co-worker and Tama County will be losing one of the best!”