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player ready...The Morton Grove Police Department this year for the first time has joined the list of hundreds of police departments across the state that send officers to the rooftops of Dunkin’ Donut locations for one day in May to help raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Illinois.
By volunteering a few hours before and after their shifts on May 20, Morton Grove cops will begin staking out the rooftop of the Dunkin’ Donuts shop at 5843 Dempster Street starting at 5 a.m. and continuing until 2 p.m.
The event, known as Cop on a Rooftop and involves more than 230 police departments across the state, is designed to get people’s attention by putting uniformed cops in a highly-visible, unlikely location along high-traffic areas, said Officer Gina Lietz of the Morton Grove Police Department.
And despite cops’ reputation for being die-hard donut lovers, there’s actually no connection to the event’s location at a donut shop.
“The Special Olympics partnered with Dunkin’ Donuts for this, so we didn’t’ have anything to do with that decision,” Lietz said. “We want to get people’s attention—not only to raise money for a good cause, but to get officers get to interact with people in the community so people get a chance to see cops in positive atmosphere.”
Aside from a chance to bond with residents of the community, the event also presents a chance to increase camaraderie among officers, who don’t actually spend much time together on the job.
“We all work different shifts so it’s a nice chance to hang out together,” Lietz said.
On the day of the event, a squad car will be parked outside the store and cops will use a megaphone to talk to people on the ground below.
Everyone who stops at Dunkin’ Donuts and makes a donation will get a coupon for a free donut, and customers who donate at least $10 will get a travel mug advertising for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, which is the largest year-round fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Illinois.
The Morton Grove Police Department host several events throughout the year to benefit the Law Enforcement Torch Run event, including “ButterBurgers and Badges” with Culver’s restaurant franchise in June and the “O’Hare Plane Pull” in September. Police across the state have helped raise more than $22 million for Special Olympics Illinois athletes during the past 25 years, according to the organization.
Morton Grove Police will carry the torch, called the “Flame of Hope” on July 5 along Dempster Avenue between Milwaukee and Lockwood avenues.
More than 3,000 law enforcement officers in the state will help carry the flame 1,500 miles to its final destination in downstate Normal for the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games.
Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.