Police chief scary as Santa
Christmas card intended to be provocative
The Abbotsford Police Department is being naughty, not nice, say taxpayers — by sending out greeting cards of a gun-toting Santa Claus to bad guys this Christmas.
None other than Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich poses as a heavily armed Christmas-card Santa, with the title, “Which list will you be on next year?”
The violent Santa image immediately provoked predictable concern – which is exactly the point, says Const. Ian MacDonald.
“We want people to pay attention,” said MacDonald. “If we had put out a generic pastoral winter scene, I’m not sure that people would read on. We want them to open up the card.”
The Christmas greeting is being sent to gang members, prolific offenders and property offenders this holiday season, as part of Operation Resolution, with a helpline for criminals wanting to turn their life around.
“I’m not saying it’s the beall and end-all but, if it gets people talking, that’s a success,” said MacDonald. “We do receive calls regularly from gang-involved people who want to get out.”
Last week, the Abbotsford Police Department got its own Christmas present – a Statistics Canada report that showed Abbotsford has gone from Canada’s murder capital in 2008 and 2009 to its current standing as one of the statistically safest big cities in Canada.
“Last week was the good news, and people were asking me how we were going to be innovative, and keep the momentum,” said MacDonald, whose department is closing in on its goal of a 50-per-cent crime reduction over the fiveyear period 2008-2013.
“We’re hoping people will read it, make a call, and pick a different trajectory for 2013.”
The Santa cards provoked an immediate response on the Facebook page of The Province newspaper:
“This is terrible,” wrote Kelly Scarsbrook. “Using the image of Santa with guns is just plain wrong.”
A person identifying himself as Robert J. Squirrell called the stunt “a lack of intelligence, a waste of tax dollars, an embarrassment to the city of Abbotsford.
Mike Schweer had the same monetary concern: “Living in Abbotsford, I think my tax dollars could be better spent.”
Reached by The Province, Abbotsford police Rich said he knew in advance that the campaign would be controversial — and probably garner media coverage.
“We hoped that would happen,” said Rich. “We’re not going to rest on our laurels.
“A little controversy can really help.”
Rich said he donned standard Emergency Response Team gear — Kevlar helmet, ballistics vest, semi-automatic rifle, chest-mounted handgun, and two magazines — for the photo shoot.
Rich explained there were two versions of the card sent out — the Santa cover with a yuletide greeting for business associates, and the gang helpline number to associates of a different stripe.
“We sent the card to people who are involved in property crime, people we deal with on an ongoing basis, people involved in the drug and gang world.
“We thought if we sent out a thought-provoking message, that people might think about going home to a safe place at Christmas.
“You can get out, you can be safe, but you have to make a choice.”
Rich didn’t have an exact figure, but said the campaign cost “significantly less than $1,000.”
Along with the detractors, some Province Facebook friends gave the Santa campaign a thumbs-up.
“Good tactic,” wrote Stephen Jacura. “It’s not the card itself that makes the statement, it’s the act of sending the card.”
Added Dave Brown: “It would only bother me if I was on the naughty list.”
And Tania Wenn had a bit of yuletide fun in her comment.
“So what are they going to write?” joked Wenn. “Looking forward to ‘catching’ up with you in 2013?”