Central Coast cops go on the roof for Special Olympics

If you were driving around Santa Maria or Santa Barbara Friday morning you may have seen police officers on the roof of the local Dunkin Donuts stores. They were there to raise awareness and money for the Special Olympics.

It’s called Cop On A Rooftop and Santa Maria Police and Guadalupe Police officers participated in the first event at the new Santa Maria Dunkin Donuts store at the corner of Enos and Broadway.

“Birdseye view”, said SMPD Sgt. Nate Totorica, “we’re getting up on top and we’re able to see a lot of people, announce, have our signs and get people to come in as much as we can and donate for a good cause.”

Santa Barbara Police and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies participated in Cop On A Rooftop at the Santa Barbara Dunkin Donuts on State Street Friday morning.

Free coffee and coupons for donuts for everyone who showed up and donated money, all proceeds to benefit Special Olympics Southern California.

For decades local law enforcement agencies have helped raise money for Special Olympics with events like the Torch Run, Tip-A-Cop, Polar Plunges and Plane Pulls.

“It’s important, it’s really about raising awareness”, Sgt. Totorica said, “we have a whole program out here for athletes, our athletes participate all year long, a lot of people think Special Olympics is just one event, but it’s all year long and we’re raising money all year long, it’s all of our local law enforcement agencies that are doing that and the money that we raise here locally goes directly to our local athletes.”

More than 500 athletes with disabilities in Santa Barbara County participate in the Special Olympics every year.

“The athletes, their amazing”, Sgt. Totorica said, “the more we spend time with them, they just bring a lot of energy, it kind of fills our tank back up, reminds us why we do this job, people in the community who just need our help, and they are always the most grateful for what we do.”