CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Christmas came a little early on Sunday for Chicago police families who have lost a loved one.
Police cars lined the block in the Beverly neighborhood on the South Side where the family of Officer Samuel Jimenez lives.
Jimenez’s 6-year-old daughter, Angelina, squealed as she and her two siblings opened gifts from Santa and Mrs. Claus in their front yard.
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Crystal Garcia said it means a lot that the Chicago Police Foundation remembers her husband, who was killed in a shootout at Mercy Hospital days before Thanksgiving two years ago.
Garcia said she’s grateful for the support from her family in blue.
Phil Cline, executive director of the Chicago Police Foundation, said Operation Santa is designed to help the kids celebrate at a time that can be pretty rough.
In the 14th year of the program, the foundation gave out gifts to 17 families who had an officer killed or severely injured including three who died from COVID-19.