INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Santa made an early delivery to an Indianapolis home, thanks to officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department East District. According to a Monday social media post, IMPD East District Officer Marco Zaragoza was dispatched over the weekend on a welfare check at a local home, for a complaint of children living in unsuitable conditions. When Officer Zaragoza arrived, police said he was given permission to enter and determined the children were just fine inside the clean home. However, the officer noticed something else; an empty Christmas tree with no presents underneath.

According to police, Officer Zaragoza stuck around and talked with the mother who said she was going through a rough time. The officer asked if she was going to buy presents, to which she responded probably not due to already paying rent and bills.

After leaving the home, Officer Zaragoza later decided he wanted to help the family have a merry Christmas, so police said the officer and his family went to buy presents for the mother and children.

Because Santa needs “elves” or special helpers when it comes to delivering gifts, police said the officer enlisted his partners, Officer Breann Leath and Officer Cristian Canelas to be his gift delivery helpers.

According to police, the officers were met with a very thankful and surprised family – full of smiles – when they (Santa and his helpers) delivered the special gifts.


Image via IMPD East District