This year due to a significant reduction in staffing, the Santa Sleigh, an 18-night, mobile-volunteer route that has been around for more than 20 years, will be cancelled. The Redondo Beach Police Department has been cut from 109 to 87 people, and the five off-duty police officers who run the sleigh each night will not be available for volunteer work. “Because of the City’s ongoing budget cuts and concessions from the RBPOA, Santa will have to shorten his visit to Redondo Beach,” a press release issued by the Redondo Beach Police Officers Association.
The event was previously paid for by the RBPOA with help from the Redondo Beach Firefighter’s Association. According to a release from Scot Martin, the vice president of the RBPOA, the reduction of police officers in the department has reduced the pool of officers available for the event. “We just can’t get the manpower to do it,” said Sgt. Dave Taneman, president of the RBPOA.
Instead of the 18-night program where the volunteers pull a ‘Santa sleigh’ down various scheduled streets, giving out candy and asking kids for their Christmas wishes, the RBPOA will have Santa out on the sleigh for only two special nights; Dec. 10 at Alta Vista Park Baseball Diamond and Dec. 17 at Anderson Park Baseball Diamond from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be treats, professional photography and, of course, Santa. As usual, this event will be staffed by volunteer police, fire and civilian employees. “Its disappointing we can’t go out into the neighborhoods this year,” said Sgt. Taneman, adding, “Everybody volunteers to see the excitement on the kid’s faces when they come out to meet the sleigh. Hopefully, they can take their kids to the two parks instead this year.”
Correction: this article originally appeared with a misattribution of the POA’s statement to City Manager Bill Workman, who did not issue any statement or quote whatsoever regarding this issue.
