"What is the world coming to when you've got to go to jail to see Santa?" said Eleanor Loucero, a 69-year-old waitress. "I'm telling you, nothing is safe anymore."

Jessica's parents, Jon and Maggie Olsen, said their daughter was watching television the other night when she ran in to tell them, "Some man is going to shoot Santa!"

On the drive to the police station to see Santa Claus, a police officer named Ron Oreskovich who was wearing a red stocking cap, the little girl told them she was worried about the bad man.

"Is it going to be all right there?" she asked. "Is the bad man going to come there?"

Her parents told her, "Don't worry, they've got Santa in a safe place." 'Indicative of the Times'

The Olsens said their daughter was not as shocked by the threats as they might have expected. They speculated that children today have become almost inured to violence, with television shows and news programs dominated by crime and bloodshed.

"I guess it's just indicative of the times," said Ms. Olsen, with a shrug.

Like most other parents here, the Olsens tried to make the best of the situation. "It's a good way for kids to learn to trust the police," said Mr. Olsen, a 40-year-old insurance broker. "This way, they'll associated officers with Santa Claus."

The children lined up to see Santa, near a wall posted with photographs of suspects wanted for armed robbery, drug dealing and forgery, and not far from a holding cell sometimes used for muggers and prostitutes.