Crime & Safety

How To Legally Douse The Chief of Police

Volunteers from the police department will put down their citation pads to take orders in downtown Menlo Park.

If you walk into for a slice of pizza on June 13 and see eight Menlo Park police officers, don’t panic. They’re not there to arrest anyone; they’re going to be there waiting tables to raise funds for the Special Olympic Law Enforcement Torch Run. The program is called Tip-A-Cop.

Police officers from all California will be raising money through affiliated endeavors, so that police officers can run through the state bearing the Special Olympic Torch.

Doreen Roth, director of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics, is working with to organize the event. Roth said that the run is one of the largest grassroots fundraisers for the Special Olympics, which has grown from a small event in Wichita, Kansas in 1981 to a global event that has raised more than $100 million in 35 countries. 

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“I can’t say enough about the officers who come out and volunteer their time,” Roth said. “It just shows you what wonderful human beings they are.”

More than 3,000 law enforcement officers are going to be participating in the event in Northern California. Officers from San Mateo County will be carrying the torch, which is called the “Flame of Hope.” Some of them are from the This year's event will also feature a dunk tank. Yes, you can pay money to dunk the Chief of Police and other city officials in the dunk tank.  

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"My arm was twisted," joked Police Chief Bryan Roberts. "Last year we raised $3,500; I want to do better than that," he said.

All tips given at on the 13th between 5 and 9 p.m. will go toward funding The Law Enforcement Torch Run, which begins June 8, 2011 in advance of the Northern California Special Olympics Summer Games at U.C. Davis. If all goes as planned, officers will run with the torch through Menlo Park on June 15. 

If you're not a pizza fan, you can also make donations by contacting Menlo Park Police Officer Victoria Trask. You can reach her by email at vltrask.menlopark.org or 650.33.6300.


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