The holiday season is starting to wine down but here is a police related encounter on the south side of Milwaukee that will warm your heart. Approximately seven years ago officers at District Two had an idea about how to celebrate the Christmas season with the Latino community. It was a take on the Three Kings holiday that is celebrated in Latin America. Twelve days after Jesus was born the three kings made their way and gave gifts to the baby Jesus. Usually in Latin America the kids get gifts during this celebration. The officers decided to target family victims of crimes in deciding in what families to give gifts to. There were sixty-three to about sixty-five families that the police met with. They also got names from the churches on what families needed help.
The targeted children were 14 years old and under. Each child would get fifty dollars among other gifts. The Knights of Columbus helped with the gifts. The children were taken to a southside Walmart to shop for toys and clothes. They used to have a party for the children pre-covid. There was dancing, clowns and story telling at the event. The officers would dress up as the three kings and take pictures with the kids and the police horses. Large tables were set up and had grocery products on them. Haircuts were given out at the event plus also gift cards. This event was for people that lived on the south side. Safe and Sound plus about ten other different members helped to set up the event.
Hopefully, next year if covid is under control the event will get back to where it started without the restrictions. Police Officer Eliel Contreras is the District Two Community Liaison Officer who help to coordinator the event. He advised me it is important to get the Latino community to trust the police if we want them to report crime. Some are scared they will be reported to immigration if they come forward. So, this event plus other interaction hopefully will help bring the Latino community closer to the law enforcement community.