FOR SOME, CHRISTMAS IS ANOTHER DAY AT WORK

While some people were spending time with family and friends, others were spending the day at work
 
“It’s my job,” Arcata Police Officer Greg Pope said. “I signed on to do this 12 years ago, and it was something we knew we'd have to do going in to it.”
 
Offier Pope said he had to postpone Christmas because it’s his job to keep people safe.
 
“It’s always fun to wake up with the kids and Santa stuff and that kind of thing, but we'll do it tonight," Officer Pope said.
 
But for others, like Eureka Inn Receptionist Jessica Fulton, they might not have that opportunity.  
 
"The world doesn't stop on Christmas,” Fulton said. “There's people working everywhere, so I feel more aligned with them."
 
She said her family lives on the East Coast, but it’s not as bad as she thought.
 
"It’s my first Christmas working,” Fulton said. “It's not as lonely as I thought it would be." 
 
For Stephen Shawles, working the holidays is one of the best parts of his bartending job.
 
"I actually have a really good time working on Christmas,” Shawles said. “Because it's usually a really good group of people that come down and hang out."
 
He adds that he’s happy to be there for people.
 
“It's always important to be around and provide that kind of service to the rest of the community," Shawles said.
 
For Humboldt Bay Firefighter Brandon Johnson hanging out with his colleagues after work on Christmas is a tradition. 
 
"This evening were going to do a Christmas dinner with the whole crew."
 
And like Officer Pope said, someone has to work.
 
“Everyone eventually has to work Christmas, it's just a part of the job," Johnson said.