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Mystery of the elf detective Officer Derek Docken gives Kate the Elf a "fix-it ticket" in Central Point Friday. Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch Tuesday Dec 6, 2016 at 5:19 PM Dec 6, 2016 at 5:38 PM Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune With a busy holiday season underway, Central Point police have added an extra detective to its ranks. On loan from a little-known police force based out of the North Pole, she might be creating more mysteries than she's solving. Kate the Elf Detective arrived last month to provide the department with some needed help with social media and patrolling local parks, schools and the post office. Whether she appeared in the parade Saturday night remained an unknown. Some children were on the lookout, but older fans of the popular "elf on the shelf" holiday game, which the department quietly acknowledges is Kate's actual purpose, pointed out that the rules prohibit touching the elves, because their magic could quickly wane. Officially Kate was assigned to provide holiday reinforcement, explained Nikki Petersen, volunteer coordinator and police support specialist. Evidenced by postings on social media, the tiny recruit has paid visits, leaving letters and prizes, at the Central Point Post Office, the local skate park and playgrounds, schools and businesses. The tiny blushing detective, thanks to an elf propensity for mischief, got herself into a little mischief after cutting out of work early. Only minutes after the elf made a mad dash in a tiny red sports car, Officer Derek Docken, who quipped that he "must have walked into the office at the right time on Friday afternoon," was tasked with ticketing the wayward elf. "She doesn't have a front license plate, which means it's only a fix-it ticket," Docken explained. "I was a little surprised I was going to be ticketing an elf, but she'll be able to get it squared away." Admittedly, Docken didn't want any bad press with any local kids. "Really, really glad it was just a fix-it ticket," he reiterated. Only partially willing to refer to Kate in a fictitious manner, Petersen said the elf on the shelf concept had been fun for local residents, especially kids. Facebook posts about the elf have been met with comments and pictures of local children following clues to find prizes left by the elf detective. Petersen said Central Point Perk owner Gustavo Pardo donated the elf and suggested the police department post online for some holiday fun. Clothes and accessories for Kate have been provided by local resident Misty Strock, who runs an online "Elf on the Shelf" clothing and accessory store. Petersen said she was impressed with Kate's growing fan base and the fun ways officers and residents had suggested to stage the city's newest recruit. "We've heard that lots of other departments are doing it, but they're doing it kind of different, where the elf goes and visits different places. We wanted community involvement with ours, especially on social media, so we're encouraging people to post pictures on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter," Petersen said. "All our officers have come up with fun ideas. They've renamed taking a selfie, taking an 'elfie.' We worry she's going to get a big head." Given that Friday's infraction yielded a simple fix-it ticket, Petersen suspected that nearby Jackson County Justice Court would provide some holiday leniency. "She'll go to justice court and get it taken care of, and it probably won't even go on her record. I don't think she was too worried. The police lights were flashing, but she was all smiles," said Petersen. "I guess when you're in a red Barbie car, speeding through town, you throw caution to the wind." To follow the adventures of Kate the Elf online, see www.facebook.com/CentralPointPD. — Reach freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected]