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     West Trenton - Frederick H. Madden, Acting Superintendent of the Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ State Police, today announced that all State Police personnel will be mobilized to see that the Grinch does not repeat his famous Whoville Christmas heist on Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ's kids.

     Today begins several events in which Troopers and civilian staff will be assisting the US Marines with their "Toys for Tots" program and providing under privileged children with holiday gifts better than any Whoville kid could hope for.

     Acting Superintendent Madden has persuaded Old Saint Nick to trade in his sled for a police package Crown-Vic to help highlight the holiday activities with a visit to the State Police Museum & Learning Center at Division Headquarters in West Trenton at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18.

     "Unfortunately, many kids will not have a joyous holiday and will not get a visit from Santa," Madden said. "This year however, the Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ State Police has been in contact with the North Pole and has cleared a special flight path for Santa. On Wednesday, Santa's sled will land at the Division Headquarters in time to drop off toys to visiting children."

     In its thirteenth year, the annual holiday celebration has become a State Police tradition. The fun filled event is sponsored by the Superior Officers' Association; the Non-Commissioned Officers' Association; and the State Troopers Fraternal Association and the civilian and enlisted staff of the State Police. State Police volunteers on Wednesday will serve holiday treats to children from the Mt. Carmel Guild Day Care Center. Immediately after their snack, "Santa" will present each girl and boy with a toy and stocking filled with special gifts.

     Members of the press attending the event will get a rare pre-December interview with Santa and an opportunity to check on the status of their holiday wishes.

     At 2:00 p.m. on that same day, State Police personnel will gather at the Troop "A" Buena Vista Headquarters, 1045 State Highway 54, Buena Vista Township to turn over a truck load of toys to the US Marines "Toys for Tots" program. Troopers collected the toys from the 10 stations covering southern Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ. This delivery is just one of several which will take place over the next few days by Troopers from stations and units statewide who have gathered gifts for Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ's underprivileged children in conjunction with "Toys for Tots."

     Additionally, State Police stations from across Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ have identified and adopted needy area families to help insure a happy holiday. Station personnel are arranging the purchase of gift certificates to be distributed to the adopted families in time for Santa's visit.

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