BY NICK DIAMANTIDES
Staff Writer
It’s not every night that a police cruiser with its lights flashing pulls up in front of a house only to have Santa Claus step out with a bag full of gifts for the kids. But that’s what happened Monday evening when the Signal Hill Police Department (SHPD) undertook its time-honored tradition: the Christmas Outreach.
The program, which provides Christmas gifts to needy families, has been in effect for many years, but this was the first time police officers escorted Santa from house to house.
The bearded elf’s unusual arrival attracted small crowds of onlookers who at first believed that an arrest was in progress. But when he stepped out of the police SUV, invariably somebody shouted “It’s Santa Claus!” And that was followed by squeals of laughter from neighborhood children as well as adults.
SHPD Officer Don Moreau has been in charge of the program for the past few years. Based in the SHPD’s small substation at Las Brisas apartments, Moreau serves as the department’s community officer— undertaking various programs to meet the needs of residents and maintain good relations between them and the SHPD. “This is one of the duties that I enjoy most,” he said. “It’s great to be out here doing this for deserving kids.”
Moreau drove a police sedan laden with some of the gifts; Kevin Okerstrom, assets protection manager for the Signal Hill Target Store; and this reporter. Officer Al Spigel drove the SUV carrying Santa, another Target employee, and more gifts. Moreau explained that the Christmas Outreach is funded with money donated during other SHPD community outreaches that take place throughout the year and grants from Target and other businesses and organizations. “I go to each school in Signal Hill and talk to the counselors who recommend the families who are most in need and deserving in our community,” he said. He noted that this year gifts were given to a Long Beach family that lives a few blocks north of Signal Hill but has children who attend Burroughs Elementary School. “The resident services coordinators at Las Brisas also recommend needy families,” he added, noting that, because the SHPD does not have enough money to help all the needy families in the area, he sometimes refers families to other organizations that help supply gifts.
Okerstrom noted that Target management has placed a high priority on the SHPD’s Christmas Outreach. “We always contribute something,” he said. “This year we gave some grant money that was used to purchase some of the gifts for the kids, and we also gave gift cards to the parents that they could use to purchase more gifts at our store.”
“I really want the public to know that Target is a good corporate neighbor,” Moreau added. “We have always received grants from them for this program and they always donate to other SHPD programs throughout the year.”
Okerstrom explained that Target also appreciates all that SHPD does. “We are more than happy to offer any kind of products, services or grants to help our police department,” he said. “They are always here for us, helping to keep us and our customers safe, and their response time is very short. We just don’t feel that we can do enough for them to thank them for all they do for us.”
“It makes our job much easier when we get help from the community and from local businesses,” Moreau added. “Our partnership with Target is a good example of the way things are supposed to work.”
Moreau explained that giving needy families a helping hand is important in and of itself, but the outreach also serves another purpose. “This is a way to show kids and adults that we are here for them,” he said. “We are here to help in other ways besides just throwing handcuffs on somebody.”
In past years, Moreau and Santa would make appointments with the families at the Target Store to give them the gifts. “Sometimes, because of transportation problems or other issues, the families arrived late and we would have to wait there for a long time,” he said. “This year we decided it would be easier to just go to their residences.”
One of the moms whose kids received gifts said she was thrilled by the SHPD’s outreach. “This is a great police department. I love it,” she said. “My kids have been looking forward to this.”
One of the dads also expressed his appreciation. “During this time when the economy is so down, this is a big help,” he said.
Another mom added, “Going through these hard times right now, we really appreciate this. It has made our Christmas.”
Santa Claus, who disguises himself as a mild-mannered Target employee named Alvaro Contreras most of the year, said he enjoyed the evening immensely. “It’s just a good thing to do for the kids and families,” he said.
“This night went really well, and it was a wonderful experience,” Moreau added. “These families work hard every day but just need some help getting gifts for their kids. It’s great to be able to help them out and see the smiles on the kids’ faces.”
