(Altoona, Iowa) Residents of Altoona may have caught a glimpse of "Santa Cop" recently. Officer Joe Meola's been serving as Officer Kringle lately, wearing a blue Santa suit, with Altoona Police patches.
Meola tells our newspartner, Channel 13, WHO-TV that as a a kid in Altoona he remembers how officers had an impact on his community, and he says he wanted to do the same.
He says some kids have asked him why Santa's wearing a gun belt? He told them, 'sometimes he has to check the naughty list, but says none of the kids are on the naughty list.
Sergeant Alyssa Wilson's been serving as Officer Kringle's partner, "Elfette." She says Officer Kringle is spreading Christmas joy, but is still on the job, and got into a foot chase in full Santa gear, and caught the shoplifter.
The officers also handed out gift cards to neighborhood restaurants so families could enjoy a Christmas meal this holiday season.