The Elf on the Shelf has taken on more responsibilities this year outside of watching children and reporting naughty-or-nice status to Santa. This year the Elf on the Shelf has joined the Orem Police Department to share crime reports.
The Orem Police Department has been reenacting traffic stops with Elf on the Shelf serving as the officer and Barbie and Ken serving as the culprits.
In the most recent reenactment, Barbie represents a woman who was Facetiming while driving, so a police officer pulled her over and gave her a ticket.
“It obviously wasn’t fun for her that she got a ticket,” Martinez said. “We aren’t trying to poke fun at a person — which is why we don’t include names — but it’s a way to educate people in a fun way.”
Martinez got the idea from having an Elf on the Shelf at home with his family. He ordered a male and female Elf on the Shelf and asked the fire administrative assistant in Orem to sew police uniforms for the elves. He jokes that it’s weird he’s a police officer playing with dolls and admits that his wife makes fun of him for it, but he does it to reach out to the community and “to show the lighter side of law enforcement.”
“Some people just think we are bullies out beating up people, but we’re moms and dads,” Martinez said.
The Orem Police Department reports “Daily Briefs” on its Facebook page. Martinez says they will continue to post Elf on the Shelf reenactment photos on the Orem Police Department’s Facebook page throughout December.