CHP brings spirit of Christmas to East Quincy

By Debra Moore

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The spirit of Christmas — in the form of the California Highway Patrol with lots of candy canes — descended on East Quincy last evening, Dec. 21.

In what has become a holiday tradition, the Candy Cane Crawl took to the streets at 5 p.m. and zigzagged from Mill Street to Clough over the course of the next two-and-a-half hours.

Officer Reid Mason, who first brought the event to the area in 2012, said that it has grown from a lone officer handing out treats to the 30-plus individuals who took part in last evening’s event. A CHP vehicle now pulls a float with inflated holiday characters and the officers’ children through the streets, while a sound system blasts Christmas carols.

“We make a real racket,” Mason said. “It’s a nice opportunity for us and our families to get out in the community and share some holiday spirit.”

While it was cold last night, Mason said it didn’t compare to Christmas of 2015 when freezing rain fell, almost collapsing the inflatables.

Mason said that they try to visit as many streets as possible, and while many people come out to receive their candy canes, others wave from the windows. It makes for a festive sight.

The officer organized a similar event for Halloween, but somehow the group missed Karen Street. “We heard about that,” he said so they ensured that didn’t happen again.

Officer Mason is the public information officer for the Quincy office of the CHP and also maintains its Facebook page, which has become known for its humorous look at some situations.

While the CHP performs serious work, it’s fun to see the lighter side of its officers’ efforts to protect and serve the community.