A Facebook post by the Conn family inspired Marysville, Calif., Police Chief Aaron Easton to buy the family a car. KTXL-TV video screenshot

MARYSVILLE, Calif., Dec. 10 (UPI) -- He might wear blue instead of red, but a California family's personal Santa -- the local police chief -- proved just as generous as Old St. Nick when he bought the family a car.

"I've done this career for quite a while now," Marysville Police Chief Aaron Easton told KCRA-TV. "It sounds cliche, but I started it and remain in the career to have moments where I can actually help somebody out."


Easton's opportunity to help came when he spotted Jessica Conn's Facebook post about how the Saturn she shares with her husband, Timothy, finally gave out in front of the home of a man who offered to sell the family a Nisaan at a reduced price.

Conn wrote she and Timothy, who live in an RV with their children, ages 7 and 8, were unable to afford the reduced-price car.

The family said lack of transportation forced their daughters to walk 2 1/2 miles to school each day.

"It was kind of spur of the moment, and it was yeah... I'm gonna buy them a car," Easton told KTXL-TV.

Easton, whose wife died three and a half months ago, said he sought permission from his three children to take money from the family's Christmas fund.

"I asked them, 'Are you OK with losing this from you guys' Christmas fund for your presents to help this family out?' and I was very proud that each one individually without hesitation said, 'Yeah absolutely, yeah, let's do this,'" he said.

"I think this story shows they've really inherited their mom's compassion and love for others," he said.

Timothy Conn shared high praise for the police chief.

"His mom and dad raised an awesome, awesome man," Conn said. "Aaron has restored my faith in believing in fate -- fate and faith."

Conn said Easton invited his two daughters to walk with police in the town's Christmas parade last week.

"They were ecstatic about it," Conn said. "They've always wanted to be in a parade. They got their wish."