This season of giving coming at the height of "haad time" all across the land, has brought out the charitable best in many groups and organizations, who are determined to prove that even when things are bad, there's still a lot of goodness to go around. And tonight you can add one more organization to the list of goodwill givers, and it may not be who you expect it to be. Last night the Police Department's Patrol Branch in Belize City, led by ASP Edward Broaster was out in the streets of southside Belize City, spreading and earning some goodwill. We caught up with him as he played Santa Claus in the St. Martin de Porres and Collet areas of Belize City.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
With sirens blaring from his squad car Assistant Superintendent of Police Edward Broaster made his way into neighborhoods in Belize City. On any other night it would mean that this cop who's earned a reputation on the street it would probably have been there to rough up someone. But on this night that old rep. didn't apply and he may as well have been named Broaster Clause or even Santa Broaster, as he carried with him duffle bags filled with gifts, slippers, and even crates of apples. As he walked into the neighborhoods at first it took some convincing to get the kids out but eventually they got into it. With a firearm at his side he opened up the truck and the goodies began to flow.
[Kids Getting Gifts and Apples]
If the scenes are a surprise, that's understandable, after all it's not everyday that the police come as Santa Clause and not the bogeyman.
Woman #1,
"Mostly when people see police they think something bad happen but it is something good they are doing. Its very nice for the Police Department to do something good for the children."
Woman #2,
"I thought something was wrong. I thought he had a problem with and the kids on the street at that hour. It is good for them to help the community, especially the needy."
Man #1,
"This is very appreciated coming from the police, its very nice."
And while it is appreciated, Broaster says the motivation behind it is to keep the community at the police's side.
ASP Edward Broaster,
"We were trying to reach out to underprivileged children in the southside areas of Belize City where they would not be ordinarily reached by the goodwill of the community who has been giving out over the past couple weeks, giving out gifts and dinners for unprivileged kids. We found it necessary to go into those areas whereby these kids are in need and are neglected at times and many of times parents would tell their child, 'I bet you I will make the police take you,' having children being afraid of the police officers. Now we could have gone in there putting on a Santa suit but we decided that we wanted the kids to see that they're getting gifts from the police officers so that down the road they can tell their parents, 'see the police vehicle there that came by and gave us toys,' or point at a police officer, not necessarily me personally."
And while Broaster looks to have the uniform respected and appreciated, with programmes like these, he may well be on the way to getting that.
The toys were a donation from Richard Evans; the slippers were from Charlie Lo and the apples from Kim Chee. Broaster says about 120 children received gifts and he intends to make this an annual event.
