pd_christmas
Christmas came early for the Coronado family in Sacaton Flats when Officer Ronald Platerio from the Gila River Police Department (GRPD) delivered a sleigh full of gifts for each of the eight children.
Working in collaboration with the Steven W. Martin Foundation, GRPD and the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), Platerio and other officers were able to assist families in need with gift donations during the holiday season here in the Community. The officers lined up as early as 6 a.m. at a law enforcement warehouse in Mesa for gifts they would deliver throughout the GRIC.
In the 21 years that Platerio has been a law enforcement officer within various Indian communities, he feels that delivering Christmas presents to those in need is one of the crowning accomplishments of his position.
“This is one of those moments where we’re actually giving back to the Community,” he said. “It makes me proud of being a law enforcement officer.”
Within the past year, Platerio has also taken it upon himself to start an extra-curricular basketball team for teenage boys. The team has participated in basketball tournaments associated with the Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the Phoenix metro vicinity. They’ve also played at the annual Native American Basketball Invitational held at America Airways Center annually. By being out the field as an officer, coupled with volunteer coaching a basketball team,
Platerio has become aware of the need for assistance that exists in the Community. Regarding the Christmas gifting effort, he said, “Actually more people are in need of this.” Platerio also hopes that more and more officers and law enforcement departments will get involved in these efforts.
In a letter addressed to the GRPD, the Coronado family extended their gratitude for the gifts that were given to the children. The family stated that after recently moving they didn’t have much left to put toward Christmas gifts. And being a large family, with six nieces and nephews along with two grandchildren, the task of providing gifts was looking very taxing.
Although Christmas is but a memory as we move forward into the New Year, it’s important to remember that there are always ways in which we can assist our fellow Community members and lend a helping hand, no matter what time of year it is.
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