Nuvision Hero: Anchorage Police Department Officer Melissa Lampert

She walked into a tense domestic call as the third officer on scene, trying to read the room and catch up fast. The woman who’d called the police was upset and spiraling. Then the woman looked up, did a double take, and lit up: “Hey, I know you. You took a picture with my daughter at that police event.”

The mood shifted instantly. That single, happy memory cut through everything else.

That’s why Officer Melissa Lampert keeps saying yes to one more community event, one more volunteer meeting, one more long night. The little moments add up—for kids, for families, and for the officers who don’t always get to be seen on a good day.

Finding Purpose in Giving Back

Melissa didn’t set out to lead big programs. She “got voluntold” into Shop with a Hero years ago and realized halfway through she was basically running it. Anchorage already had Shop with a Cop & Firefighter, focused on kids in shelters. Melissa’s version found a different lane—helping families who weren’t in shelters but still struggling during the holidays.

“It’s about giving a little bit of boost, a little bit of love, and some attention around the holidays,” she said.

She hunts for those kids the old-fashioned way—calling teachers, counselors, and school administrators at local Title I schools, who know which families are quietly trying to hold things together. She also keeps a list of kids APD meets during some of the worst moments imaginable: those who’ve lost a loved one or witnessed tragedy. When the holidays come around, she invites those same children to Shop with a Hero and, whenever possible, pairs them with the officers who were there that day.

“It’s healing,” she said. “For the kids, for the guardians, and honestly for us too.”

Turning One Event Into a Community Tradition

What started as a small outreach event has now grown into one of Anchorage’s most anticipated holiday traditions. The Shop with a Hero night fills stores with flashing lights, laughter, and teamwork across agencies. Alongside APD and the Alaska State Troopers, Melissa has brought in officers from the Airport Police and Fire Department, University Police, Department of Corrections, FBI, U.S. Marshals, and even chaplains with therapy dogs.

She loves how it’s become a reunion of uniforms and familiar faces—an event that gives other agencies without their own outreach programs a chance to connect directly with families. “It’s neat because they find it rewarding too,” she said. “They get to see the impact up close.”

Every year it grows more interactive. Kids try on vests, check out police drones and robots, and climb into patrol cars for photos. Officers hand out stickers and share laughs. And when the shopping is done, they head to a surprise bonus table—courtesy of Nuvision—stocked with Squishmallows, plush Baby Yodas, and other holiday favorites. “They love it,” Melissa said. “It’s the part they weren’t expecting, and it makes the night feel extra special.”

From Summer Sorting to Winter Smiles

Her work doesn’t stop when the decorations come down. In summer, she helps lead the Clothesline Project, a massive back-to-school clothing drive that fills classrooms and hallways with sorted piles of jeans, jackets, and shoes. Months before the doors open, Melissa is behind the scenes gathering donations, labeling bags, and recruiting volunteers—often convincing her patrol team or crisis negotiation unit to spend a day helping.

When the event starts, she’s out front talking with kids in the rain, handing out stickers, asking what they’re excited to find, and taking photos. “It’s such a simple thing,” she said. “But it makes a huge difference.”

A Second Career with Deeper Purpose

Policing is actually Melissa’s second career. Before joining the Anchorage Police Department, she worked in journalism and public relations, including a recruiting project for the Alaska State Troopers. That experience brought her back to her roots—her father and uncle both retired from APD—and reignited her desire to serve in a more direct way.

“I wanted to do something that felt more meaningful,” she said.

Now five years in, she works patrol, serves on the Anchorage Cops for Community board, and is part of the crisis negotiation team, which she calls one of her favorite roles. She also teaches report writing at the Academy and now leads that cadre, helping shape new recruits. She’s proud of her trainees—every member of the latest academy class just passed their finals.

She laughs when asked how she manages it all. “It’s a lot, but I love staying involved,” she said. Between patrol, community events, and mentoring new recruits, she still finds ways to bring others along for the ride—usually by promising ice cream afterward. Her favorite flavor? Pistachio with rainbow sprinkles.

Finding Meaning in Every Moment

Ask what keeps her going, and she won’t give a canned answer. She’ll tell you about those touch points—the human moments that change how someone sees an officer. She believes in bringing more people, especially women, into the profession. “It’s one of the most rewarding careers you can have,” she said. “We need people from all backgrounds—men, women, different experiences—because it makes our department stronger. You connect with people differently, and that’s what this job is about.”

Her advice to anyone thinking about volunteering or serving is simple: start small. “You don’t have to run an event,” she said. “Just show up for a few hours. It helps more than you think.”

And if you do happen to tag along with her, there’s a good chance you’ll end the day with a scoop of pistachio and a story you’ll never forget.

As part of our Nuvision Heroes series honoring National First Responders Day, we’re proud to share the stories of the men and women who protect, serve, and strengthen the communities we call home.