Behind the Badge
Garden Grove PD officers working Christmas Day spent some time during their shift brightening up the day for children living in motels and in neighborhoods filled with families less fortunate than others.
The cops do it every year behind the scenes, digging into their own pockets to purchase dozens and dozens of toys.
Friday’s toy-delivery operation was managed by Corp. Tim Kovacs, the senior officer on the 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 25 shift. A total of 12 officers participated.
Kovacs initially asked Cindy Nagamatsu Hanlon, manager of the Garden Grove PD’s Community Liaison Division, to find four families for him and other officers to visit Dec 25.
But as soon as the officers pulled up to the motels, word quickly spread they were there and kids swarmed them, and the gifts were handed out to kids from several other families.
At one point, Officer Ben Elizondo was talking to a 15-year-old girl who mentioned she loved to read. But the officers had not purchased any books as gifts. So Elizondo raced to a Walmart and bought for the teen a Barnes and Noble gift card.
“It was awesome,” Kovacs said of the experience. “We all had a great time and were happy with how well this was received. It made working on Christmas Day a lot more bearable. And it’s the least we could do to do some good for the community.”
Behind the Badge photographer Steven Georges was there to capture some magical moments:
Genisis, 1, left, her sisters Belinda, 3, Janet 5, and their father Alfredo Monsivaiz, far right, hold their new Christmas presents given to them by Garden Grove officers Danny Mihalik, back left, Nick Lazenby and Gerald Jordan at the Garden Grove Inn on Christmas Day.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Melanie Born, 10, gives a thank you hug to Garden Grove Officer Ben Elizondo after he and other officers arrived at the Garden Grove Inn on Christmas Day to hand out presents to kids.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Nine-year-old Iris Hall smiles as she holds up her Christmas present she received from Garden Grove PD officers Danny Mihalik and Gerald Jordan, right, as the officers arrived at the Garden Grove Inn to brighten up Christmas for the children living there. Other kids from left include Iris’ sister Katie Hall, 7, Sun-Niya, 6, and Savanna, 9.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove PD Officer Danny Mihalik gives a plush toy animal to 3-year-old Belinda Monsivaiz as she is held by her mother Brenda Arment at the Garden Grove Inn while officers bring toys that were donated by GGPD employees.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove PD Officer Nick Lazenby hands out presents to the kids in the Sunswept Avenue neighborhood on Christmas Day. The presents were donated by officers and employees of the Garden Grove PD.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anconio Hernandez, 4, looks at a Shrek-matching game given to him by Garden Grove PD Officer Ben Elizondo.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove PD Officer Gerald Jordan hands out Christmas presents at the Garden Grove Inn on Christmas Day to Iris Hall, 9, left, her sister Katie Hall, 7, and Jaedy Bird, 7, right.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove Officer Ben Elizondo hands out Christmas presents on Sunswept Avenue to kids who gathered at the GGPD patrol cars when the officers pulled up.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove Officer Ben Elizond hands out presents on Christmas Day on Buena Street to Bianca Hernandez, 6, left, her brother Gustavo, 4, Augustin Hernandez, their dad, and Alexa, 2.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
