Garden Grove Police and Fire chiefs sent to the slammer — but for a good reason

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The police chief was in the pokey.

So was the fire chief.

But Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin and Fire Chief Tom Schultz weren’t in the slammer due to some act of malfeasance.

On Friday, June 5, Elgin and Schultz cooled their heels in a homemade jail to raise money for CHOC Children’s.

Customers walking in and out of the Walmart at 11822 Gilbert St., as well as store employees, had the opportunity from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to place greenbacks or loose change in a large jar to benefit the Orange hospital’s Children’s Miracle Network.

Walmart employees and shoppers donate money in support of a fundraiser for CHOC-Children’s Hospital of Orange County on June 5,  at Walmart in Garden Grove. Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz, left and Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin solicited donation from their homemade jail cell in front of the Walmart in Garden Grove.  Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Walmart employees and shoppers donate money in support of a fundraiser for CHOC on Friday at a Walmart in Garden Grove. 
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

The donations were “bail” to free Elgin and Schultz from the clink.

“Walmart is a strong supporter of giving back to the community, and CHOC is an important part of specialized pediatric care,” Elgin said. “The Police and Fire Department believe in supporting this fundraiser, and we encouraged the community to come out and support the event.”

Walmart had a target of raising $22,000 with the proceeds directly going to CHOC Children’s.

Final tally: About $20,000, Walmart store general manager Michael Hardaway said. Walmart is attempting to raise the remaining $2,000 through June 14. The amount raised while the chiefs were in jail was more than $1,200, Hardaway said.

Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz, left, and Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin collect donations from the confines of their homemade jail cell in front of the Garden Grove Walmart. The fundraiser is in support  of CHOC-Children’s Hospital of Orange County.  Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

The two chiefs in the slammer.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Walmart employees and shoppers donate money in support of a fundraiser for CHOC-Children’s Hospital of Orange County on June 5,  at Walmart in Garden Grove. Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz, left and Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin solicited donation from their homemade jail cell in front of the Walmart in Garden Grove.  Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Walmart employees and shoppers donate money in support of CHOC Children’s.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

A Walmart shopper drops a ten dollar bill in a bucket in support of a fundraiser for CHOC-Children’s Hospital of Orange County at the Walmart store in Garden Grove. Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz and Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin were locked in a homemade jail to collect donations with the proceeds directly going to CHOC. Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

A Walmart shopper drops a $10 bill in a large jail as “bail money” to free Chief Elgin and Chief Schultz.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Walmart shoppers donate money in support of a fundraiser for CHOC-Children’s Hospital of Orange County on June 5, at the Walmart in Garden Grove. Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz and Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin were locked in a homemade jail to collect the donations with the proceeds directly going to CHOC. Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin, right, hands out a Garden Grove police department pin while locked into a homemade jail cell with Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz to collect donations in support of a fundraiser for CHOC-Children’s Hospital of Orange County at the Walmart in Garden Grove.  Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin, right, hands out a Garden Grove police department pin while locked into a homemade jail cell with Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Walmart shoppers donate money in support of a fundraiser for CHOC-Children’s Hospital of Orange County on June 5, at the Walmart in Garden Grove. Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz and Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin were locked in a homemade jail to collect the donations with the proceeds directly going to CHOC. Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Walmart shoppers fill a bucket with cash in support of a fundraiser for CHOC-Children’s Hospital of Orange County on June 5,  at Walmart in Garden Grove. Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz and Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin were locked in a homemade jail to collect donations with the proceeds directly going to CHOC. Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Walmart shoppers fill a large jar with cash in support of a fundraiser for CHOC Children’s.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz, left, and Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin pose for a photo in their homemade jail where they were collecting donations in support of a fundraiser for CHOC Children's in Orange on June 5 at a Walmart store in Garden Grove. Walmart had a target of raising $22,000 with the proceeds directly going to CHOC. Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC

Garden Grove Fire Chief Tom Schultz, left, and Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin pose for a photo in their homemade jail where they were collecting donations in support of a fundraiser for CHOC Children’s in Orange on June 5 at a Walmart store in Garden Grove. Walmart had a target of raising $22,000 with the proceeds directly going to CHOC. Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC