Gurnee Police Sgt. Jason Kalinowski said Friday that the department is determined to be listed on the back of next year’s Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run T-shirt as one of the top money-raisers in the state for the Special Olympics.
That accomplishment, he said, would represent the resolve Gurnee officers and youth Explorer Post members have put into benefiting the Special Olympics this year.
One example of those efforts took place Friday morning, when off-duty Gurnee police and Explorer personnel volunteered time at two separate Dunkin’ Donuts stores as part of the “Cop on Rooftop” fundraising event for the Special Olympics.
“Participation has been awesome. We’ve had a good turnout,” Kalinowski said of both volunteers and the customers donating money to the cause at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Grand Avenue near Dilleys Road. “I think we’ll do pretty good this year.”
Police estimated that between 100 and 150 customers had donated to the program between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. It was scheduled to run until 12:30 p.m. The Gurnee Police Department was running a simultaneous effort at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Hunt Club Road in the village.
To draw attention to the event, police officers and Explorer Post members rotated shifts on the roof of the business, which is one of the presenters of the Torch Run.
Taking the mid-morning rooftop shift was Explorer Madison Tomasiewicz, who just graduated from Warren High School.
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“It’s perfect,” she said of Friday’s weather and her perch on high. “Lots of people came out. We’ve had a good crowd.”
Tomasiewicz said she heard “lots of honking horns” from motorists passing on Grand Avenue. “We’re getting a lot of attention.”
Tim Didier from west suburban Addison threw a couple of bills into the till on his way out of the store and said he was glad to do it, even though he is not a regular customer and rarely finds his way to Gurnee.
“I’m good with it, so why not? It’s the first time I’ve been in the neighborhood for a long time,” Didier said. “I just happened to be here. My wife’s choir has always been involved with the Special Olympics, so we support it.”
The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics will begin on June 5 and culminate June 10 at its destination — the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games in Normal.
The Gurnee Police Department’s leg of the run will be held June 5, when officers will receive the torch at Great America and carry it, with a police escort, of course, to Route 21 and Casey Road, where they will hand it off to the Libertyville Police Department.
“It’s a nice fun-run pace,” said Kalinowski, who helps coordinate the effort.
While the Cop on Rooftop and Torch Run are the most visible police-oriented Special Olympics events, Kalinowski says the department stays involved year-round, including participation in the Tip a Cop fund-raising event at the local Red Robin restaurant in the fall.
Kalinowski said the community seems eager to help as well, based on reactions to Friday’s Cop on Rooftop event.
“The majority of people donate,” he said. “Some tell us they have family members who participate in the Special Olympics, and they love seeing us out here.”
Twitter @jimnewton5