Full Notification

For the past fifteen years, Tustin Police Officer George Vallevieni has helped Santa Claus fly through the streets of Tustin. This year, from December 1st through December 22nd on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday and Friday Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s helpers will visit every neighborhood in Tustin. Officer Vallevieni will be flying the sleigh so that Santa and his gang can meet every child in Tustin and give each one a candy cane.

In 1996, the Tustin Community Foundation, then led by former Mayor Chuck Puckett donated $2,000 to the Police Department so that they could build a sleigh for Santa to visit the children of Tustin. Santa’s sleigh was purchased from an antique shop window display and with the minimal funds available for the sleigh, much of the work to prepare it for City flight was done by Officer Vallevieni

In 2009, the Foundation once again donated funds, $1,562.00 to be exact, to rehab Santa’s sleigh. Over the years, the sleigh has be visited and climbed on by over 100,000 children, and it needed refurbishing. Officer Vallevieni did most of the work himself, carefully rebuilding the fence, rehabbing the grass turf, handcrafting the reindeer and each detail of the renovation. Police volunteer Kathleen Byrnes hand painted the reindeer.
Both Officer Vallevieni and former Mayor Chuck Puckett (also known as Mayor Santa) delight in taking the time to help Santa bring holiday cheer to the children of Tustin. Also playing Santa is retired Capt. Mike Shanahan.

“My third night helping Santa, during our first season, we turned onto Bonner Lane and there was just one child waiting. The little girl stood, all dressed up waiting outside of her house. As the sleigh flew down the street, the girl started bouncing… vibrating… oscillating… and she yelled, ‘Grandma, Santa came to see me! See me! See me!’ That’s why we do this,” said former Mayor Chuck Puckett.

“I want to make sure each child in Tustin experiences the magic of Christmas. Some kids can’t afford to go to South Coast Plaza and have their pictures taken with Santa. Instead, we bring Santa to their very own street. In some neighborhoods we can barely inch the truck down the street, there are so many excited children swarming the sleigh to meet their hero, Santa,” said Officer George Vallevieni. “If we can make the holiday season special for all children and let our community see the police helping Santa, I think we amass a lot of goodwill that will last long after the holiday season.”

This year, as usual, the Tustin Rotary Club will donate candy canes, 8,000 in all, one for each child who visits Santa. Beginning on December 1st Santa will fly through neighbors beginning at 5:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday. Parents can check to see when Santa will be on their street by accessing the Tustin Police Department’s website at www.tustinpd.org/SantaSleigh.htm. Additionally, temporary signs will be posted in neighborhoods Santa will visit that evening. The morning of Santa’s visit, a PD van will go ahead of the delegation to make an announcement that Santa is on his way.