Operation Blue Santa Proves to Benefit Children and Officers

When Elvis Presley performed a “Blue Christmas” back in 1957, he sang, "I'll have a blue Christmas without you/I'll be so blue just thinking about you." Today, however, San Angelo’s Police Department turned this idea of a “Blue Christmas” into something positive. They decided to have a blue Christmas with the community because they were thinking about the children during the 9^th annual Operation Blue Santa, which kicked off Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Thirty-eight eager children gathered at the Wal-Mart on North Bryant to go Christmas shopping with a police officer.

Officer Brian Bylsma, who is the primary coordinator of the event, stated, “When I was in the military, I saw it on the news that police departments where doing this, and then all of a sudden, it stopped. I don’t know why it stopped; so, I brought it up to the association and said ‘Let’s get back into the community.’”

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SAPD did just that. Officers raise funds over the year to go towards this program, and that allows each child who is chosen to spend $250 on Christmas gifts for themselves and their families.

“We coordinate with the local school district and the at-risk coordinators provide us with at least two names from the school,” Officer Bylsma said.

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These children were sent a letter informing them they had been selected to go shopping with an officer for Christmas. The kids were paired with an officer to walk around Wal-Mart with them, and when they finished shopping, the children got to take the gifts back to a table where a volunteer wrapped the gifts.

“[This] is so they can take the presents home to  the family members for Christmas, and the family members have no idea what they’re getting for the child,” noted Bylsma. “[The kids] have a chance to be able to buy stuff that they otherwise might not be able to get."

Operation Blue Santa is not just about the gifts, but it also serves as a teaching tool for the children. A main purpose is to try and show the kids a different, more positive side of the police officers; something different than what they might see on television or social media.

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“They may only see the police officers in a negative atmosphere and this is a way to show them another side,” Bylsma stated. “This is so the kids know that we’re not the bad guys; [it's] so they know that they can come to us when they need to.”

In that regard, the children did not look at these officers with any intimidation on Saturday morning. They interacted with them the same as they would a parent, family member or friend while showing much gratitude and excitement.

While Bylsma said he thinks the officers get more out of Operation Blue Santa than the kids, he “likes to see the smiles and the happiness on the kids’ faces.”

He added, “It brings a lot of joy to me. I enjoy giving back. I enjoy doing different things for the community and for the kids. I enjoy showing them a different side of the police department, to let them know that the officers are human.”

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Of course, without the help of the community, Operation Blue Santa would not be in existence. Officer Bylsma extended much gratitude to those who have helped make this possible.

“I can’t express more thanks to the community. If it was not for them, this program could not be done.”