Behind the Badge
When a caravan of police cars rolls onto a scene, people usually head in the other direction. But on this particular December day, kids flocked toward the police, who had a pickup truck stuffed with holiday gifts.
The informal and unannounced event was created about five years ago, according to Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin, as a way to further connect with the community during the holiday season. The event is also kept under wraps until the police arrive on site.
“I think it’s a unique approach because it’s not expected,” Valentin said. “This is spontaneous.”
Children in Santa Ana were thrilled to receive gifts from the Santa Ana Police Department, such as this boy’s new skateboard and Hot Wheels, during the department’s surprise visits to local neighborhoods for the holidays. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
While planned and announced gift giveaways can easily become overrun, Valentin prefers the more organic connections that are formed when the team arrives unexpectedly in the community bearing gifts.
On a recent Wednesday afternoon about 10 officers in cruisers, city SUVs, and city trucks wound their way through Santa Ana, with stops at several city parks and the Evergreen Street and Minnie Street neighborhoods. The toys the department was handing out, ranging from sports balls and equipment to dolls and toys to games, were bought by the department using proceeds from the annual 5-kilometer Holiday Fun Run/Walk. Police personnel and their families pay to participate in the event, raising thousands of dollars that are dispersed during the holidays.
Children were thrilled to receive surprise gifts from the Santa Ana Police Department.
Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
At Jerome Park, the first stop of the caravan, about a dozen kids ran up to receive gifts. James Lua, 6, immediately began rolling his new toy truck around by the playground.
“I really never had a toy truck before,” he said.
At Rosita Park, the caravan pulled up near Vianney Benicia and her four-year-old son, Erick, who were just getting out of their car.
Santa Ana police officers hand gifts to local children, bringing joy for the holidays.
Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
“I was like, ‘What happened?’ I was scared,” Vianney said of the unexpected arrival of the police. However, after Erick was loaded down with a soccer ball and a “Reel Them In!” fishing game, she was a lot happier.
“It’s really nice. It’s a surprise,” she said.
The team hit the jackpot at Evergreen and Minnie streets, where children quickly spread the word and others poured out of nearby apartments to get in on the action.
“I’m going to see if my family wants to play the game with me,” Carlos Romero, 11, said after snagging a game.
Santa Ana Police Department surprised local children with gifts in the parks and neighborhoods of Santa Ana on a recent December day.
Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Teresa Miller, a resident of the neighborhood, was delighted to see the kids happy. Nearby, twins Markie and Kaylie Zamora, 7, were comparing their presents, while Janice Cruz, 5, struggled to maintain control of a ball and doll.
“It’s so good to see the police like this, instead of the way we usually see them in this neighborhood,” Miller said, watching the officers engulfed by happy children as they passed out soccer balls and basketballs, skateboards, dolls, games and toys.
“Santa Claus came,” exclaimed Michael Vasquez, a CalTrans worker, who had arrived home from work just in time to watch the giveaway.
Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin poses with children after giving them presents during a special visit to local parks and neighborhoods in December.
Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
“I think it’s definitely great for the kids,” said Deputy Chief Robert Rodriguez as he watched the children on Minnie Street empty out the rest of the toys in the truck. “More important, it strengthens our relationship in the community.”
Rodriguez said he grew up on the Westside of Santa Ana and never saw anything like the gift giveaway at the time.
“I think it’s good for (the children) to see us in a positive light,” Rodriguez said as the late afternoon light faded.
Santa Ana police officers hand out toys to families in the community on December 14, 2022. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Children reach for toys being delivered by Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin and a group of officers during a special holiday visit to local neighborhoods. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin shows some toys to a group of boys in a local community during a special police department visit to neighborhoods and parks to hand out presents to kids in December. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Children in Santa Ana were given gifts from the Santa Ana Police Department. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
A boy holds the gifts he was given by the Santa Ana Police Department on December 14 — two bolls and a grand slam bat and ball — during a surprise holiday visit. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana residents receive gifts from the police department on December 14, 2022. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin poses with a group of children after bringing gifts to them during a surprise holiday visit on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin speaks with residents during a surprise visit to deliver gifts to neighborhood children in Santa Ana. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana police officers hand out toys to local kids, spreading holiday cheer in December. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin led a group of officers through local parks and neighborhoods dispensing presents to children and spreading holiday cheer. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin hands a present to a young boy in a local park on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana residents enjoyed a surprise holiday visit from the Santa Ana Police Department, as officers and Chief David Valentin stopped in local neighborhoods to hand out gifts to children. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
A woman and girl are excited to receive gifts from the Santa Ana Police Department for the holidays. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
A girl shows off the new bubble camera and dinosaur toys that she got from Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin and a group of Santa Ana police officers during a surprise gift giveaway in her community in December. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin and Santa Ana police officers pose with neighborhood children after stopping in the community for a surprise gift giveaway. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin and Santa Ana police officers pose with neighborhood children after stopping in the community for a surprise gift giveaway. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana residents take their gifts home that were a surprise from Police Chief David Valentin and a group of Santa Ana police officers ahead of the holidays. Photo by Mike Goulding/for Behind the Badge
