By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Del Rio Police Department (DRPD) held a free holiday event for the community outside the city’s police station with hot chocolate, games, and presents for children.
“Cocoa With a Cop” on Thursday evening. DRPD Chief Frank Ramirez said the event is the
DRPD’s gift to the community by handing out presents for children while also offering hot
chocolate and cookies.
“Cocoa With a Cop” was the DRPD’s annual holiday event to bring people together at the station, located at 101 Lowe Dr. DRPD Chief Frank Ramirez said this was the third time the
DRPD has held “Cocoa with a Cop,” and he mentioned the positive responses he has gotten about the event.
“The crowds get bigger and bigger each year, and we are happy to acquire (toys) and share them with the kids in the community,” Ramirez said.
More than 40 people attended the event, which lasted for two hours. Hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and cake were provided for
Thursday evening. Itchy is the DRPD’s first-ever mascot, and DRPD Chief Frank Ramirez said
they want to bring Itchy to more community events in the future.
those who attended, and an oversized checkerboard and a corn hole toss set was placed in the parking lot outside the station for children to play with.
Toys were also handed out midway through the event. Two lines were created for boys and girls to pick a toy, and after each child received something, they liked, the DRPD still had plenty of toys to give away. Ramirez let everyone know “the good news” and allowed the children to take more toys home.
Several dogs and cats in need of “forever homes” were brought to the event. Ramirez said the DRPD acquired oversight of the city’s animal control division two months ago, and they have done a
Thursday evening. The city’s animal services division brought cats and dogs to be adopted
during the DRPD’s “Cocoa With a Cop” event on Thursday.
couple collaborations with them at community events. Adrian Juarez, officer with the animal control division, said they first collaborated with the DRPD in October during a Halloween event.
“DRPD is working really hard to get (stray animals) adopted,” Ramirez said.
The highlight of the event was the debut of the DRPD’s new mascot: Officer Itchy the Dog.
Ramirez said it took six months to get Itchy sewn and stitched for his big day.
city animal control officer Adrian Juarez, City of Del Rio Teen Miss 4th of July Gianna Galata,
DRPD Internal Affairs Investigator Cpl. Dulce Gonzalez, DRPD Officer Lauren Stover, DRPD
Chief Frank Ramirez, DRPD Officer Jerry Castellano, DRPD Officer Edward Avila, City
Councilman Jesse Lopez Jr., DRPD Officer Itchy of the Dog, DRPD Records Division
Supervisor Bambi De La Garza, City Emergency Management Coordinator Amanda Aldaco,
DRPD Capt. Robert Guzman, DRPD Equipment Coordinator Juan Fuentes and DRPD
Administrative Assistant Isabel Gaytan.
