Christmas Day For Lubbock Police - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

NewsChannel 11 spent time Christmas Day with 17 year veteran Lubbock Police Officer Gary Hodges. Hodges says that Christmas Day is easy. It's Christmas night when Lubbock Police find themselves part of one of the most dangerous situations they encounter - domestic disputes.

"Usually as the day goes along it becomes kind of like a regular work day," Hodges said.

Officer Hodges is talking about Christmas Day.

"As the day goes along people drink and get a little bit drunk and then they start arguing and fighting and that's usually the way it goes," said Hodges.

Hodges says despite the work on Christmas night, the hours leading up to it really are almost nice.

"One good thing about Christmas Day is, it's kind of an enjoyable day for all the guys that are working because we kind of hang out," said Hodges.

He says that citizens often stop by the police station offering food and thanks for the service the Lubbock Police provide.

"Most everybody we deal with will wish us a Merry Christmas so everybody in a little bit better spirit," Hodges said.

We met up with Hodges at the Lubbock Police Station Christmas morning as he was ready to patrol around Lubbock.

"You just kind of watch for traffic problems or suspicious characters. You kind of just stay in your area so when a call does go out you can respond fairly quickly," Hodges said about his day.

While with him no emergency calls came in, so to pass the time, Hodges checked out several homes on the police Christmas watch list.

"We're just kind of covering our area that we're assigned to. Every officer is assigned to a different area of town," said Hodges.

Because of Hodges' job, working Christmas Day is a big sacrifice.

"They really don't talk about it much. They just kind of look at it as another day on the job," he said.

The "they" he's talking about are Hodges' wife and two kids. He says they work gift giving around his job, each knowing that when dad leaves the house it's his job to protect and defend. And that's a gift he gives to each of us, not only on Christmas Day but every day of the year.

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