BAY MINETTE — Santa Cop is calling on local residents to help him and the Bay Minette Police Department provide Christmas to those in need.
For the second year the Jolly Ole' Elf will become an honorary officer with the Bay Minette Police Department as it implements its Christmas Cop program.
The program was initiated last year and provided Christmas to more than 60 children who otherwise would not have had a Christmas, and it will serve that many this year.
Donations for children up to age 17 will be accepted at both Dollar Generals, Dollar Tree, Piggly Wiggly and the Police Department until Dec. 18.
Chief Michael Rowland said the program is not exclusive to the Bay Minette Police Department, falling under a nationwide program called Christmas Cop, but Rowland put his own spin on this town's plan.
"With the Christmas Cop program, an officer dresses as Santa with the suit and beard and everything," Rowland said. "We're going to have a true Santa Cop."
Lt. Ruffin Crook will don the Christmas Cop hat, remaining in his traditional blue police uniform, as he and a group of volunteers travel the town delivering the gifts.
"During the last couple of months, as they were out on patrol, officers were looking for families who needed help providing Christmas for their children," Rowland said.
A group of volunteers has worked to separate items already donated and will take time to wrap the gifts with the help of off-duty officers, their spouses and children. Copy paper boxes are needed for wrapping.
Gift boxes will be delivered Dec. 21-22.
"We couldn't have done this without the volunteers," Pam Thompson, secretary to the chief, and program coordinator, said. "A special thanks to the Bay Minette Police Department Citizen Academy Alumni for offering to sort and wrap the packages. And we want to thank all the people who donated."
Sponsors include Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Piggly Wiggly, Gulf Coast Office Products, Eugene Overstreet of Street's Restaurant and Rec and Roll Skating. CVS provided wrapping paper and Gulf Packaging supplied boxes.
Rowland said a program like Christmas Cop is important not just because it provides Christmas for those who would not otherwise have it, but because it puts officers in a good light and makes them feel better about what they do.
"During the holiday season, police departments around the country are preparing for rising crime by constantly being on the lookout for criminals," he explained. "Through this program the officers are able to interact with residents in a good way, and they get to take their assistance to those residents to a new level."
