Once a year, Santa and his elves take over the U.S. Capitol Police department.  

On Friday, Capitol Police threw their annual holiday party, dressing up as St. Nick’s helpers and escorting 60 children from Savoy Elementary School in Southeast D.C., to the Senate. The children gathered outside the Dirksen Senate Office Building, greeted by officers dressed as elves and Capitol Police’s mascot, “Eddie Eagle” and “Night” from the National Association of Town Watch. When Santa arrived in his sleigh, decorated by police, children chanted his name.  

After the Presentation of Colors for the children inside, they made holiday cards and crafts, had their faces painted and visited a working police K-9 dog and people from local radio station, WPGC 95.5. Children were handed coloring books promoting gun safety and police badge stickers.  

“This is much more complex and important than it might seem on the surface,” Chief Kim C. Dine told HOH. “It’s a holiday party but it helps build trust and communication with the police, which is a national policing issue. It’s our way of giving back to the Washington, D.C., community and the children of Washington, D.C. It gets folks to understand who the Capitol Police are and what we do. But also the education and outreach, so it’s a positive event on multiple levels.”  

The children had pizza and cupcakes for lunch, participated in trivia, then, following a dance competition, each sat with Santa and Mrs. Claus for a photograph and received gifts, courtesy of officers.

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