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Operation Santa Lock-Up

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Santa Claus is coming to town and with him is his rough and rowdy crew, ready to put you and your coworkers behind bars. Operation Santa Lock-Up, sponsored by the 92nd Security Forces Squadron Defenders Association, will begin taking arrest requests through the Santa Hot Line Dec. 10 at 7:30 a.m. for any and all of Team Fairchild's most wanted on base.

Participation is voluntary and the event should not interfere in daily operations, though "in the past, it's been a well-participated event with squadron and group commanders participating," as well as other Airmen of all ranks, said Staff Sgt. Oscar Hernandez, 92nd Security Forces Squadron, who will be heading Operation Santa Lock-Up for the first time.

How it works: Participants submit a donation and request that a Santa Arrest Warrant be issued for someone on base. On Dec. 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Santa's team from the Defenders Association will locate the individual, serve the Santa Arrest Warrant, handcuff and imprison them in the Security Forces Classroom "Jail" for an allotted time. The detainee may then match the donation in lieu of going to jail.

The suggested donation is $10 for 30 minutes of detainment and $5 for additional 15-minute increments.

Proceeds from Operation Santa Lock-Up will benefit the Defenders Association, an organization that sends packages downrange for Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as Operation Warmheart, a first sergeant's organization that provides holiday meals to those in need on base.

"The Santa Lock-Up is always successful, and anything we bring in we are thankful for," said Master Sgt. Todd Edgell, 92nd Medical Group first sergeant. "The money goes into the general Operation Warmheart fund and is used for Operation Warmheart boxes filled with food for a traditional holiday meal."

The fundraiser is an opportunity to support base philanthropic organizations, as well as to have some holiday fun with co-workers. Be prepared to get locked up because you never know who's conspiring to get you behind bars, and have a camera handy for amusing photos.

Santa Arrest Warrants can be made by e-mailing Sergeant Hernandez at oscar.hernandez@fairchild.af.mil now, or by calling the Santa Hot Line at 247-5901 Dec. 10 through Dec. 14.