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UMD Police in ‘Cops on Tops’ to Benefit Special MD Olympics

COPS on Rooftops

Police Officers from the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety are collecting donations for Special Olympics Maryland on the Rooftop of the north College Park Dunkin’ Donuts this weekend.

Anyone who ever thought nothing good could come from cops sitting around (or in this case ON) a donut shop should reconsider that notion.

As part of a national fundraising effort for Special Olympics Maryland, three good-natured officers from the University of Maryland Police Department – Officers Balagtas, Brown and Galster have volunteered to spend the day on the roof of Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant at 9701 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD.

Their collective fundraising goal is $5,000.00.

In 2009, the first year a Maryland location participated in the promotion, the Laurel Dunkin’ Donuts and Laurel Police Department raised more than $7,000. Last year, with five Dunkin Donut locations partnering with law enforcement, $30,000 was raised for Special Olympics Maryland. This year eight Dunkin’ Donuts locations across the state will take part in the program: Laurel, College Park, Westminster, Towson, Reisterstown, Havre de Grace, Mount Rainier and California.

Dunkin’ Donuts customers and the general public alike are encouraged to stop by and support the officers in their efforts to raise both funds and awareness for the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Maryland. Along with law enforcement volunteers who will be on the rooftop, other officers will greet customers inside and outside of the store, passing around donation jars and rallying support for the cause. A merchandise table will also be set up, with Torch Run t-shirts for sale as well as raffle tickets for a 2011 Harley-Davidson FLXH Street Glide donated by Harley Davidson of Annapolis and custom painted by renowned airbrush artist Mickey Harris.

“Cops and donuts have a long, humorous history together, so it was only fitting that we team up with the great folks at Dunkin’ Donuts for this light-hearted event,” said David B. Mitchell, Chief of Police of the University of Maryland Police Department. “This event allows us to do something great for an incredible organization and poke a little fun at ourselves at the same time. What could be better than that?”

The event was founded on the idea by the law enforcement officers of Illinois, who in 2009, took to the rooftops of 94 Dunkin’ Donuts locations across the state and raised more than $182,000.

SOMD is a year-round sports organization dedicated to providing quality sports training and competition opportunities to Maryland’s children and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or closely related development disabilities. SOMD currently serves 10,000 athletes statewide, and offers 28 sports, all at no cost to the athletes or their families. For more information about SOMD visit www.somd.org or call 410-789-6677.