Cops top local Dunkin’ Donuts to support Special Olympics

By Justin Wier

jwier@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

Motorists driving down Mahoning Avenue may have been surprised Friday by the sight of law-enforcement officers patrolling the roof of Dunkin’ Donuts.

The officers were raising money and awareness for the Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics Ohio. Cars from the Austintown Police Department and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office were out front with lights flashing while Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers Jodi Bowlen and Shaun Baskerville circled the roof. Deputy sheriffs and reservists from the Youngstown Air Reserve Station stood by the drive-thru taking donations.

“We had a gentleman who thought the place was being robbed,” said Lt. Les Brode of the patrol. “But he still pulled in to see if everything was OK and ended up donating.”

The Cop on a Rooftop event began as a collaboration between Dunkin’ Donuts and Special Olympics Illinois 15 years ago.

Thomasina Dennison, field marketing manager for Dunkin’ Donuts, said it expanded to six states this year.

“We thought that we could branch it out and help more people,” Dennison said.

This is its first year in Ohio, with 12 locations in the state participating.

Chandra Brode, event coordinator for Special Olympics Ohio, said organizers hope to expand to Boardman and Canfield next year.

“We’re going to start with one [in the area] and see where we go from there,” she said.

The annual Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest fundraising vehicle for Special Olympics Ohio. It raised more than $500,000 last year. Chandra Brode said officers volunteer hundreds of hours each year, and the torch run adds to the fundraising opportunities.

“If you don’t want to freeze in a polar plunge, or you don’t want to pull a plane and you don’t like to jog, you can come here and stand on the roof,” she said.

The officers were rotating throughout the day from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. By 10 a.m., they had raised half of their $3,000 goal.

Deputy John Boggs, with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, was taking donations from people at the drive-thru. He said the response was remarkable.

“Everybody is just so receptive and supportive,” Boggs said. “About 99.9 percent of people coming in are giving.”

As he stood there, a woman drove around the building for a second time to make a donation.

“People that don’t have it, they’ll get change and come back around,” Boggs said. “It’s a great cause.”