Local law enforcement officers from San Luis Obispo County traded in their uniforms for aprons while serving the community during the Tip a Cop dinner at the South County Regional Center in Arroyo Grande Friday night.
Officers, sheriffs, deputies and other officials waited on guests, serving them a full dinner and dessert throughout the evening.
100 percent of the proceeds earned throughout the event go right back to benefiting Special Olympic athletes across the county. It is the largest fundraiser in the region for the organization.
For the officers who lend a hand to the cause, it means even more to give back to the organization.
“It’s about these guys. It’s about their participation, their gold medals, their ability to teach us a lot of valuable lessons. But for the community, I think it’s being served by your law enforcement officers, good food, donating back to Special Olympics. We have a very giving county here,” said Sheriff Ian Parkinson from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
Special Olympic athlete Jon Geisler agreed.
“When they put on this, it’s not about anything else. It’s about raising money for an organization that’s been running for 30 years plus, and that I’m glad to be a part of it. And if it wasn’t for good guys like him [Sheriff Ian Parkinson], there wouldn’t be no Tip a Cop dinners. There wouldn’t be anything for us athletes,” said Geisler.
The Special Olympics San Luis Obispo County organization recently hosted other Tip a Cop dinners, set in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo.
For those who could not attend one of the Tip a Cop dinners but still want to donate, you can do so on the Special Olympics Southern California website.
