Santa isn’t the only one who brings holiday cheer to kids and families. Alameda Police Department (APD) officers have been seen delivering Christmas trees, hanging out with Otis Elementary students at the station, and providing shopping tips to residents on Facebook.
This week, you may have caught a few smiling APD officers spreading holiday cheer as they hand-delivered Christmas trees to families across the island.
The operation was made possible by the Alameda Police Officers Association, Alameda Police Managers Association, and Speer Family Farms, who teamed up to brighten the holidays for several local families, according to an APD Facebook post. Thanks to their generosity and partnership, our community shines a little brighter this holiday season.
And that’s not all.
APD and Alameda Unified School District worked together to bring 75 curious and energetic Otis Elementary second graders to the station to learn how police officers, parking enforcement, and the Public Works crew work together to keep Alameda safe and running smoothly.
“These Otis Owls brought incredible energy and excitement to the station,” APD stated.
They got to explore patrol cars and asked some “truly impressive questions” about police work, APD reported on Facebook. While hanging out with police at the station must’ve been really fun for the kids, it also was a treat for the officers.
“Thank you, Otis Elementary, for spending your morning with us,” APD said. “We’ll see you next time!”
There’s no question that the holidays bring excitement and fun to the community, but we also need to be cautious, APD said in a third Facebook post that assured the officers are there for us. “Your holiday shopping list may be long, but our patrols are longer,” APD promised.
Officers will be out with extra foot patrols, bike patrols, and vehicle patrols in our business districts. “You may notice increased visibility during peak times, with officers walking through stores, checking in with businesses and patrons,” APD added.
A final APD holiday shopping reminder: “Hide all valuables in your vehicle before stepping away, secure your bikes before entering a store, and reserve accessible parking spaces for those who need them most (we’ll be checking).”
