The West Hartford and Farmington Police departments held a combined toy drive outside Toy ‘R Us in Corbin’s Corner on Friday.

Santa Cop and another of Santa’s helpers with West Hartford and Farmington Police Department members at a toy drive Dec. 16, 2016, outside the Toys ‘R Us in West Hartford’s Corbin’s Corner. Amanda Moffo (far right) coordinated the combined effort. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

One of Santa’s helpers was stationed outside of Toys ‘R Us on Friday, and he was blue – but it wasn’t because he was sad or because temperatures were barely out of the single digits.

“Santa Cop has been really well-received,” said West Hartford Police Sgt. Tony Anderle, dressed in a Santa suit that instead of red was bright blue and included West Hartford Police Department patches and stripes.

“People are really in the holiday spirit,” said Lt. Eric Rocheleau, who heads the department’s Community Relations Division and helped organize the combined toy drive with the Farmington Police Department.

Santa Cop, and the Farmington Police Department’s red-suited Santa’s helper, collected toys as well as monetary donations from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday, filling up the back of several police vehicles in the parking lot.

Amanda Moffo, a former employee of West Hartford’s Department of Human Services who now works for Farmington Social Services, said that the donations would be evenly split between the two organizations.

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Santa Cop with members of the West Hartford and Farmington Police departments as well as Farmington Chief Paul Melanson (fourth from right) and West Hartford Chief Tracey Gove (next to Chief Melanson). Photo courtesy of Amanda Moffo

West Hartford Police Lt. Eric Rocheleau receives a donated toy outside Toys ‘R Us. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Toys of all sizes and varieties were donated to the West Hartford and Farmington Police Departments’ combined toy drive on Dec. 16, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Donated toys fill the back of a police vehicle. Photo credit: Ronni Newton