Who is The Man Who Wanted to be Santa Claus. That's what they're asking each other at the local police station when Santa Claus shows up handing out gifts. It's not so much the gifts that amaze Howard and Bertie but the fact that ol' Santa seems to know them all so well.and they haven't a clue who's wearing the red and white. It's not like they haven't seen people dressed for the holidays, especially since Earlene shows up costumed first as an elf and then a big bunny. Even Chief Culpepper has been known to don the Santa Claus suit.