CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation kicked off Operation Santa this morning.
A police motorcade delivered Santa and Mrs. Claus to Macy’s on State Street where gifts were picked up for the families of officers who were killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty. Some officers were dressed as elves.
Phil Cline is the Executive Director of the Police Memorial Foundation.
"The Gold Star families-we owe them so much, because what they've gone through," he said. "Never forget' is our motto. That's what we're trying to do with events like this."
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling also they're letting families know they're not forgotten.
"Our officers make a lot of sacrifices," he said. "Children will no longer see their mothers-their fathers, so we have to be there for those families."
Sandra Wortham is the sister of Officer Thomas Wortham, who was shot and killed in 2010.
"I just can't underscore how important things like this are," she said. "Holidays are hard when you're missing someone that you love that was taken from you."
Operation Santa was started in 2007.
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