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Police officers raise funds for Ohio Special Olympics
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Poland Village Patrolman Russ Beatty (left), Boardman Officer Daryn Tallman and Special Olympics Torch Run coordinator Sonya Danks helped out during Tip-A-Cop June 22. The event was from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Canfield's Dana Duffett was arrested by a Boardman police officer during the Tip-A-Cop event at Chili's Grill and Bar Restaurant. For the activity, "jail and bail," Duffet's mother paid $10 to have her arrested and $10 to post her bond.
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Ohio State Highway Patrolman Les Brode (right) asked Chili's Grill and Bar Restaurant customers for donations during Tip-A-Cop June 22. All monies collected from the event were donated to the Ohio Special Olympics.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
Law officials from Boardman, Poland Village, Mill Creek MetroParks and the State Highway Patrol came together June 22 to support the Special Olympics and its participants.
To jumpstart their involvement, police officials participated in Tip-A-Cop Tuesday where they volunteered their time to raise money. Fifteen law officials took turns working two-hour shifts at Chili’s Grill and Bar Restaurant in Boardman from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. They asked customers eating at Chili’s for tips that would be donated to the Special Olympics.
A “jail and bail” event was also used to raise funds. Family members were able to be handcuffed and temporarily arrested until they were bailed out. The asking price to participate was $20, but any donation was accepted.
Canfield resident Dana Duffett was arrested and placed in the back of a patrol car to show her support. Her mother paid $10 to have her arrested and $10 to bail her out.
She said it was a moment she will not forget.
“This is embarrassing,” Duffett said while sitting in the patrol car.
More than $900 was collected from Tip-A-Cop and “jail and bail” and all was donated to the Ohio Special Olympics.
In addition to the Tip-A-Cop, officials joined in the Law Enforcement Torch Run June 23 as a large torch, the Flame of Hope, traveled through Boardman. The run, which is a series of relays, began June 19 in Erie County and passed through 125 Ohio communities traveling more than 1,000 miles.
The run began at Boardman’s Chili’s with a turnaround point set at Antone’s Italian Grille on Boardman-Canfield Road. From there the group continued to run to the D.D and Velma Davis Family YMCA where a ceremony with the torch and local Ohio Special Olympic athletes was held.
Following the ceremony, the Flame of Hope run continued to the Boardman Police Department where lunch was served. This was the first year the Flame of Hope has passed through Boardman. The run route was 3.26 miles.
Law officials ran, walked and bicycled with the Flame of Hope to raise the community’s awareness of the Ohio Special Olympics.