Behind the Badge | Tip-A-Cop Dinner

BEHIND THE BADGE

Tip-A-Cop Dinner for the Special Olympics Raises Over $100,000

BY IAN PARKINSON, SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF

Here’s something we could all use more of … good news. I want to talk to you about something that never fails to bring a smile to my face. And I hope it will bring one to yours as well. I’m talking about Special Olympics. I am so very proud of my association with this organization and its volunteers, but most of all, with the athletes who participate.

I really like what this organization represents. What they achieve is so very inspirational. In their own words, they describe what they do. “Through the power of sports, people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities, skills, and success. The athletes find joy, confidence, and fulfillment — on the playing field and in life.”

That’s why I’m proud to say I’ve been involved with Special Olympics for some 30 years. Part of that involvement has been with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. In fact, in 2019, I was honored to have been selected as one of 96 law enforcement officers worldwide to serve as part of the Final Leg team, serving as Guardians of the Flame as we ran the “Flame of Hope” throughout the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which led up to the start of the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi.

I have also volunteered my time at many other Special Olympic events, including the annual Tip-A-Cop Dinners. Recently we had two Tip-A-Cop dinners. One in San Luis Obispo and one in Paso Robles. For those of you who don’t know, Tip-A-Cop dinners are where local law enforcement officers trade in their badges for aprons and serve dinner to you. We work for your tips. And when I say we work, I really mean it. Police officers, deputies, police chiefs from all over the county including yours truly hustle to serve you a tasty dinner.

This year we raised more than $75,000. That’s a major accomplishment considering it was the first year back in person after COVID. And 100 percent of the proceeds raised at the dinners benefit local Special Olympics athletes. It is an awesome event. You get a great meal. You get to see law enforcement work up a sweat. And you get to help a great organization.

This event has a long and proud tradition. More than 25 years ago, then-San Luis Obispo Police Chief Jim Gardiner started the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the state of California. The Sheriff’s Office was one of the first supporters of the event and soon became one of the strongest. I’m proud to say the Sheriff’s Office and all the other supporters of Special Olympics have helped raise over $1,000,000,000!

The Sheriff’s Office has been involved every year they’ve had TipA-Cop dinners, so for the last 17 years. Through those years, we often took part in all the dinners Special Olympics has held and even hosted our own stand-alone events in Los Osos and Cambria.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics. The Tip-A-Cop dinner brings the community together for a fun and unique event. The athletes that get to be involved in the event are thrilled to interact with law enforcement and they love being a part of the program. All funds raised benefit the athletes in our local community and allow them the chance to take part in healthy activities, learn new skills, make friends, and go for the gold! The athletes really remind me every day about things like; unconditional love, how to overcome challenges, how to support others around you and how to never give up. We forget about these lessons from time to time, but these athletes never do.

But it’s not just Tip-A-Cop and Torch runs. Special Olympics has so many opportunities for you to get involved. If you want to help, all you have to do is contact the local chapter of Special Olympics at (805) 544-6460. By helping out, I’m constantly reminded of the Special Olympics motto. And hopefully, it will be a source of motivation for you, too, “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” 