"Cop on a Rooftop" Raised $470 for Special Olympics

On Friday, May 16, the Washington County, Indiana Special Olympics athletes were joined by local law enforcement at Dunkin’ in Salem for the first annual “Cop on a Rooftop” fundraiser event. Beginning at 5 am and ending at noon, this fundraiser helps ensure that our local Special Olympics group is able to participate in the events that they love dearly. This year, they were able to bring in $470 through "Cop on a Rooftop."

“Cop on a Rooftop” might be new for Washington County, but it is nothing new for surrounding areas. It has been an annual Indiana staple for the last 11 years, but it has had its roots in Illinois for the last 22 years.

As the athletes and law enforcement alike can attest, it was a very fun morning filled with laughter and smiles.

“You can’t meet a group of better people than these Special Olympics guys. They’re amazing,” said Captain Keltner of the Washington County Sheriff's Department. “They’re always so upbeat, always smiling. You just really can’t have a bad day with them. They are so involved and it’s just amazing. You can’t hold them down, and I love that about this.

“I’ll be honest with you, I think we have more fun than they do,” laughed Keltner. “Anytime we have any involvement with them, it’s a really great day.”

“It’s just really great to see the community stop and donate to this great cause,” said Chief Eric Mills of the Salem Police Department. “It’s always exciting because we often just see all the negatives, so days like these are refreshing for us to be able to see the community come together and support these guys.”

Francie Smith, Senior Regional Director of Southwest Indiana Special Olympics and Ray Owen, Washington County Special Olympics Coordinator both had plenty to say about the group and community involvement.

“We’re doing this all over the state today,” said Smith. “‘Cop on a Rooftop’ is amazing, and I love that we can involve all the athletes and their families. Just seeing everybody together having a great time is wonderful”

“I’ve never seen anything like it as far as all of the love and support from the entire community goes,” Owen said. “We’re getting ready to do Buckets on the Square, and there will be people that come up and say things like, ‘oh, we’ve seen you all out here before! We’ll be right back.’ And they come right back with their change. Just seeing the support from everybody is amazing.”

“I would just like to give a big thank you to the community for your support with Special Olympics. We really appreciate it,” added Smith.

Events like “Cop on a Rooftop” perfectly highlight the heart of Washington County. Our community is one that shows up, gives generously, and rallies behind its own. From the smiles of the athletes to the enthusiasm of law enforcement, this fundraiser event was a wonderful reminder of what can happen when people come together for a cause rooted in joy, inclusion, and compassion. With $470 raised and many hearts touched, it is safe to say the first “Cop on a Rooftop” in Salem will certainly not be the last.