A Christmas Story

A story of Christmas charity unfolded in one of the city's roughest spots Tuesday night.

Five veteran officers arrived unexpected at the temporary quarters of a destitute single mother and her five children with a tree and presents.

The episode occurred in a cluster of small detached condos just off Del Rosa Avenue, a few blocks south of the apartment complex where Mynisha Crenshaw was killed in November 2005.

Apart from the heartwarming scene - small children and an emotional mom thanking the burly officers for bringing them a tree and gifts to where none would have been - the move could portend things to come.

Was this part of the new policy police union president Rich Lawhead touted at a recent union banquet, when he said the rank and file would make their own entreaties to the community to improve strained relations? Lawhead, who was present Tuesday night, didn't say so specifically, but pointed out that the union is looking to "make an impact" on community relations.

We'll have a larger story and pictures in Friday's paper.