New York Officers Give Victimized Family Christmas Presents
The family will be able to replace the stolen gifts after police passed the hat and presented the Orzunas with gift cards totaling $1,500 and a few toys on Saturday morning.
The Grinch who burglarized a Ferris Avenue apartment couldn't steal Christmas from the Cuenca-Orzuna family, thanks to the generosity of White Plains, N.Y., police.
The family will be able to replace the stolen gifts after police passed the hat and presented the Orzunas with gift cards totaling $1,500 and a few toys on Saturday morning, the Journal News reports.
"We had to do something," Detective German Lopez said. "We couldn't let these kids go without a Christmas."
When Lopez arrived at the family's apartment last Wednesday afternoon in response to the burglary call, "I found a lot of kids crying," the 23-year police veteran said. "All of the presents had been taken from under their tree. They even took their piggy banks."
"We passed the hat and I called the union. The response was really great," Lopez said. "I was very angry about this. I have kids and grandchildren myself, so I can imagine what the Orzunas must have felt when their kids' presents were stolen."
The union matched the $750 raised by Lopez and Castelli, said White Plains Police Benevolent Association President Robert Riley. They also got donations from Public Safety Commissioner David Chong and Police Chief James Bradley.
"To be burglarized is bad enough," Riley said. "To have it happen during Christmas, and to take presents away from seven kids, is a double whammy. We wanted to make sure there was a happy ending and a happy Christmas for this family. To see the smiles and their faces this morning made it all worth it."
More Patrol

When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer by Police Vehicle?
Time-sensitive injuries like penetrating trauma mean a wounded officer needs to reach a trauma center as soon as possible, and in some cases, that means transporting by police vehicle rather than waiting for EMS. What are the factors to consider in making that transport decision?
Read More →
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
5 Things to Know When Buying Backup Lights for Patrol Use
What is the value of a backup light, and what do you need to consider when selecting one? These smaller lights are invaluable as a secondary or special-purpose light and can be easily carried in a pocket or clipped to MOLLE gear, a key chain, shirt, or a vest.
Read More →
363 Fallen Officers Honored During National Police Week
In case you missed NELOMF’s annual Candlelight Vigil, here are all 363 names of the fallen officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.
Read More →
NYPD Officers Who Responded Quickly During IED Incident Recognized as NLEOMF Officers of the Month
Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro were recognized by NLEOMF as Officers of the Month for their response during an IED incident and their actions that helped prevent harm to the public.
Read More →
National Police Survey Reveals How Americans View Policing Today
A new national survey offers a comprehensive look at how Americans view policing. The study uncovers public sentiment toward local vs. federal police, communications, crisis response, the use of AI in policing, and more.
Read More →
Streamlight TLR-7 X Selected as Standard Issue Pistol Light by Canadian Federal Police
The Canadian Federal Police will be adding a new duty pistol system, which will include Streamlight’s TLR-7 X and a Glock 45 MOS 7 pistol with a red dot sight.
Read More →
Fallen Law Enforcement Officers from Across the Country to be Honored During 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13th in Washington, D.C.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) will honor 363 fallen officers who have died in the line of duty as their names are added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during the annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13.
Read More →
What Should Be in Your IFAK?
What should every officer include in an IFAK? Sydney Vail, M.D., a veteran trauma surgeon and former SWAT surgeon, explains which components are needed and which are not, and stresses training.
Read More →
Olight Releases 2 New Baton Variants & the ArkPro Ultra Onyx Black
Olight has added two new lights to the Baton Series, the Baton 4 and the Baton Ultra. One new Baton features up to 1,600 lumens on turbo, and the other 1,800.
Read More →
