Troopers are freezin for a reason

Plungers raise millions for Special Olympics

L/Cpl. Jeff Gaskin of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, right,
joined an elite group in the Super Plunge, braving the frigid
Atlantic waters once an hour for 24 straight hours.

Law enforcement officers do more than help raise funds; they involve entire communities for a meaningful cause through events such as the Polar Plunge.

Approximately 24 Polar Plunges take place every year in 15 U.S. states, helping to raise millions of dollars for Special Olympics, the year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental disabilities.

Some people plunge, and some super plunge. A plunge requires a one-time dip into cold waters, while many states have added a super plunge for those willing to plunge over and over, bringing in even more money for the cause.

L/Cpl. Jeff Gaskin of the South Carolina Highway Patrol was one of the brave who took the challenge February 1 to plunge into the chilly Atlantic Ocean in Myrtle Beach once an hour for 24 hours, joining with others to raise over $70,000 brought in by plunge participants for Special Olympics South Carolina.

Over 600 plungers took the challenge to delve into the waters once for this year’s Polar Plunge, including numerous state troopers. The South Carolina Highway Patrol has made a firm commitment to Special Olympics South Carolina, with troopers raising over $50,000, even in light of current economic times.

Plunges are also drawing the interest and participation of the command staff. Mark Keel, director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, has already made a promise for next year’s event.

“I commit to participate in the plunge in 2010,” Keel said, “and I challenge the department’s command staff to join me in this worthwhile event.”

SCHP troopers participate in other events throughout the year to benefit Special Olympics, including the Colonel’s Cup softball tournament, marathons, golf tournaments, and Cop on Top events. They also wait tables for tips and donations at Cop and Lobsters events, in addition to selling items like Hero Helping Hero Buttons, T-shirts, and bracelets. Together, law enforcement in South Carolina raised over $400,000 for Special Olympics in 2008 and hopes to do even more in 2009 for the athletes.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab front row, left to right, Criminalist III Jason W. Crafton (Snoopy), Building & Grounds Maint. II Aaron M. Mengwasser (Charlie Brown), and Lab. Evid. Tech. II Rachel L. Mengwasser (Frieda); back row, left to right: Criminalist II Matthew J. Fox (Pigpen), Lab. Evid. Tech. I Kelly A. Backes (Peppermint Patti), Criminalist Sprv. Adam C. Benne (Linus), Criminalist III Abby J. Graham (Lucy), Criminalist I Kelli E. Lebar (Sally), Landon Schuldies (Snoopy as Ace Pilot), and Matt Sparks (Woodstock). Not pictured: Criminalist I Alex A. Belt (Schroeder) and Criminalist II Shawn M. Bailes (Spike).

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory Division put together another winning Polar Bear Plunge team. This year, the group, who dressed as Peanuts characters, raised $2,500 and won the Golden Plunger award for best costume in the law enforcement category. This is the second year in a row the Crime Lab employees (along with a spouse and fiance) snagged this honor, last year showing up as Santa, his reindeer, and the elves.

They not only showed creativity, but were truly brave. This year, despite seven inches of snow at the Feb. 27 event, the Peanuts gang was part of the Polar Bear Plunge at Lake of the Ozarks. Thirteen Polar Bear Plunges across the state raised more than $685,000, as a record 3,624 polar bears braved the frigid waters to support Missouri’s Special Olympics athletes.

Members of Team Copsicles West Tpr. Jay Vogel,
Sr. Tpr. Jeromy Hasenkamp, and Tpr. Dan Meyer, left to right
wearing their red thermals and Oregon State Police hats,
are flanked by their friends "Eggs" and "Bacon."

Troopers across Oregon participated in February’s Polar Plunge, benefiting Special Olympics Oregon. Members of the Bend Area Command and the St. Helen’s worksite, making up Team Copsicles and Team Copsicles West respectively, stepped up to the bitter cold challenge of taking a dip into the Deschutes and Columbia Rivers.

Combined, the two teams raised over $6,200 for this important cause. It was the second year for numerous troopers to participate, giving an indication that this is an event Oregon troopers plan to support on a regular basis.

Members of the 133rd trooper candidate class of the
Maryland State Police march during plunge festivities
prior to their group’s plunge, for which they raised $17,500.

And on the other side of the country, the Maryland State Police sponsored the 13th annual MSP Polar Bear Plunge – the largest plunge in the country – on January 24, when more than 11,000 brave souls took a dip in the 34-degree Chesapeake Bay on a 36-degree day at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. Several celebrity plungers were on hand, including Gov. Martin O’Malley and several Baltimore Ravens players, to help the event raise over $2.5 million for Special Olympics Maryland. Members of the 133rd MSP trooper candidate class also took the plunge, raising $17,500.

The largest event of its type in the country, the
Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge involved
11,000 brave plungers who raised over $2.5 million.

Almost 50 super plungers raised $10,000 each for the “privilege” of dipping numerous times in a 24-hour period. Plungapalooza 2010 featuring the MSP Polar Bear Plunge promises to be the event of winter, with even more people expected to take part in the festivities.

TFC Doug Pierrelee of the Louisiana State Police belly flops during a plunge event in Shreveport.

Tpr. Louis Calato from Louisiana State Police Troop L in Mandeville took the Polar Plunge for Louisiana Special Olympics on March 7 at the Bass Pro Shop in Denham Springs.

Plungers across the country have been called “crazy” by some, and that is just what they are, crazy about raising money for this meaningful cause.

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