Behind the Badge
For a lot of children, the thought of a police officer knocking on the front door can be frightening. But that wasn’t the case Dec. 22.
On Tuesday across the city of Anaheim, children waited patiently as dozens of Anaheim police officers and volunteers delivered Christmas gifts to children.
This was the 8th year of the Anaheim Cops 4 Kids Christmas gift delivery program.
Working collaboratively with school districts and other non-profits, the police department identified families in need during the holiday season. Many are living in motel rooms or are multiple families living under one roof.
Retired Anaheim Police Capt. Joe Vargas addresses a group of volunteers who came together to deliver Christmas gifts and food to needy families in the community.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
A little bit of rain didn’t keep the gift delivery from happening. There were about 100 families and more than 350 children depending on them.
As president of Cops 4 Kids, I always have been impressed with the enthusiasm of the police officers and their families to participate.
My own children started delivering gifts with me when they were just in grade school. On Tuesday my wife, Jennifer, daughter Rebecaah and her husband Spencer were part of the delivery team.
Sgt. Daniel Gonzalez and his wife Mary Gonzalez were volunteering along with her children, 10-year-old Faith and 8-year-old Allison.
Young Anaheim residents were excited as volunteers and members of the Anaheim Police Department gave toys to local children on Tuesday.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
For Mary and her family, this outing was very special. For the last three months, she has been undergoing treatment for cancer. Due to her low immunity this was the first time they’d been able to go out as a family.
They delivered gifts to three families.
“My children were definitely affected by the experience,” Mary Gonzales said. “The homes we went to were very different from their own.”
They got the chance to sing songs from the movie “Frozen” and visit briefly with the children in each home.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Mary Gonzales also got to watch her husband interact with the kids and their parents. This isn’t something she gets to see every day. “We’ll definitely be back next year,” she added.
Miss Anaheim Fall Festival Julie Johnson and her court also participated in delivering gifts this year. They helped with the toy drive and spent the last few days before Tuesday wrapping hundreds of gifts.
“It was humbling to be able to participate but also to see how the children treat the police officers like celebrities,” Johnson said.
One of the most exciting moments was when officers arrived at local motels unannounced. Despite the rain, it didn’t take long for word to spread there were police officers out delivering gifts.
Retired Anaheim Police Capt. Joe Vargas, left, and Capt. Jarrett Young, right, brave the rain with Spencer and Rebecca Holbrook, Jennifer Vargas, Chad Hammitt and Maria Rodriguez to deliver Christmas gifts to needy children in Anaheim.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
The kids came from everywhere and the officers soon depleted their supply of gifts.
For hundreds of kids in Anaheim on Tuesday, Santa was dressed in blue and wore a badge.
It’s a day they hopefully won’t soon forget.
Joe is a retired Anaheim Police Department captain. You can reach him at jvargas@behindthebadgeoc.com.
Anaheim Police Officer Leslie Vargas, center, presents Christmas gifts to families living at a local motel. The police department distributed Christmas gifts and food to needy families in the community.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
A young girl living with her family in an Anaheim motel receives Christmas gifts from the Anaheim Police Department.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim Police Department Investigator Ed Arevalo escorts two boys to a van loaded with toys that were distributed to families for Christmas.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Panchito Ramirez, right, can’t wait to open Christmas gifts delivered by the Anaheim Police Department and volunteers.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
APD Capt. Jarrett Young, retired APD Capt. Joe Vargas and Jennifer Vargas, from left, bring gifts for children for the Christmas holiday. The Anaheim Police Department distributed Christmas gifts and food to needy families in the community Tuesday.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Two boys race home after receiving Christmas gifts from the Anaheim Police Department.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Rebecca Holbrook, Jennifer and Joe Vargas, Maria Rodriguez and Chad Hammitt, from left, brave the rain to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Anaheim.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
A young girl living with her family in an Anaheim motel receives Christmas gifts from the Anaheim Police Department.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Gerardo Lopez holds 18-month-old Star, who is about to receive Christmas presents from Anaheim Police Officer Leslie Vargas.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Jennifer Vargas unloads Christmas gifts to be delivered to children in Anaheim. The Anaheim Police Department distributed Christmas gifts and food to needy families in the community.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Members of the Anaheim Police Department and volunteers deliver Christmas gifts to families living at a local motel Tuesday.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim Police Sgt. Daniel Gonzalez, wife Mary and daughters, Faith, 10, and Allison, 8, helped distribute Christmas gifts and food to needy families in Anaheim.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim police and volunteers get a grateful wave goodbye after delivering Christmas gifts and food to families in need.
Photo by Christine Cotter/Behind the Badge OC
