LAPLACE — As a father of three, Vernon Bailey Jr., has seen the look of joy in his children’s eyes when they see Santa Claus up close.

“Who else makes kids smile like that?” said Bailey, a dad to an 8-year-old daughter, 6-year-old son and 7-month-old son.

As a 10-year veteran of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bailey also loves serving his community. He was the Officer of the Year for 2015 and just recently was promoted to lieutenant in the detective’s bureau.

So when Sheriff Mike Tregre put out a call for volunteers to be the department’s Santa for local functions over the holidays, Bailey didn’t have to think too hard about it before volunteering.

“I see the looks on my kids faces and I wanted to be able to do that,” he said.

The difference was, Bailey didn’t put on the traditional red suit and beard. He dressed in a policeman’s blue Santa suit and beard, then went around to local schools and nursing homes to deliver toys and good cheer.

“The Sheriff came up with it,” Bailey explained. “I think we’re the first, the only department (in the area) with a blue Santa.”

Indeed, there are a few Blue Santas around the nation, but St. John appears to be the only local department to have what Tregre calls a Law Enforcement Santa.

“I just came up with it,” Tregre said. “There’s enough red ones already. I think that blue is very distinct.”

Tregre began a few years ago with just a blue Santa hat. Finding a whole blue suit wasn’t easy, he added. Once they got one last year, it became a regular part of the Sheriff’s community outreach.

“With all the negativity going on with law enforcement, we’re just trying to change perception,” Tregre said. “The reception has been phenomenal.”

Tregre said the kids love Blue Santa and don’t seem to be quite as fearful as they might be of the “regular” Santa.

“We only had one who lost their mind,” Tregre said. “It was not going to happen.”

Occasionally the kids do ask if Santa is packing, though.

“Santa does not have a gun,” Tregre said.

Bailey, who teamed up with fellow Santa Freddie Young of the Sheriff’s Office, said his trip to Garyville-Mt. Airy Magnet School was his first in the costume and it was a memorable one.

“You see the look in their eyes. I just loved doing it,” he said. “I don’t know if the kids like it as much as the red Santa, but they seemed to love it.  I only had one kid cry  but the bear (See-More the Bear) was right by me so I think he was more afraid of the bear than of me. You had a couple of kids who would run up and run away like they weren’t too sure.”

Tregre said the response among his deputies has been great as well. He intends to let more put on the suit this year and even will send Blue Santa out to do traffic details by some schools.

“It’s very self-rewarding,” Tregre said. “I tell my guys, ‘You’re about to have a very good day at work.’”