Page 40 - January 2021
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A Santa sighting in 007
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to besiege the city, 7th District officers wanted to lift the community’s spirits during the holidays using Santa, gifts and hot cocoa in a “Santa Through Englewood” event on Dec. 23. Santa saw people taking pictures, blowing horns and yelling out in support during the three-hour route.
Sergeant Enrico Dixon first had the idea to help senior citi- zens, the most at-risk population during the pandemic, with a round of gifts. The department drew up a route and decided to use a decorated golf cart to roll through town. Ten senior citi- zens were selected to receive a gift set with the help of Jencare Medical, including a robe, griddle, back massager, instant pot and more.
But during the planning phases, Dixon noticed an opportu- nity to go further than senior citizens and created a two-in-one event for officers to engage with other residents as well. The department set up three cocoa stations along the route so res- idents could talk to the officers instead of just watching them pass by.
“The community at large didn’t necessarily know that senior citizens were getting gifts,” Dixon shared. “They just knew Santa was going to be around at a certain time.”
Despite the freezing cold, Dixon drove the golf cart through Englewood with Santa — embodied by Officer Roderique Mc- Clain, the 7th District senior citizen liaison officer — to meet and greet residents who came out to enjoy hot cocoa and take photos with the officers.
“We’re one of the most challenged districts in the city,” Dixon explained. “So just getting that feedback from the public, it was
like a protein shake or something for the community, because we didn’t pass by anyone who didn’t want to see us, take pic- tures and wave.”
Dixon is determined to continue this event and make it big- ger and better for next year.
“Despite the narrative you see on television, people actually want to hang out with us and talk to us,” he said. “People came out knowing this was the police.”
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