Cop On A Rooftop Fundraiser Returns To St. Cloud Dunkin’ Location May 15th

(KNSI) — The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with Dunkin’ on Friday, May 15th to raise money for Special Olympics Minnesota.

Cop on a Rooftop runs from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Dunkin’ location at 33rd Avenue North and Division Street in St. Cloud. Despite the event’s name, Sheriff Steve Soyka told KNSI News deputies and other public safety personnel will be in a safe position. “The funny thing is it’s called Cop on a Rooftop, but in reality, we’re not going to be on the roof. Dunkin’ Donuts is a good partner with us, but they’re a little concerned about our safety up there. So we will be on the ground. We will be near the drive-thru area.”

Soyka is asking customers stopping in for their morning coffee or doughnut to consider adding a donation. The money supports Special Olympics Minnesota broadly, with a portion staying in the area to help send Central Minnesota athletes to competition.

Soyka explained the fundraiser is also serving a different role this year. “This event is actually replacing our Torch Run. Normally we do a Torch Run in June as a fundraiser along with this particular event. However, because of the large-scale event occurring in June, a lot of their resources are going towards that.”

That large-scale event is the Special Olympics World Games, which Minnesota is hosting in late June. The World Games are the largest Special Olympics competition, bringing together thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the globe to compete in summer sports. The event is held every four years, and this is the first time it is being staged in Minnesota.

Because of the scale of the World Games, only certain legs of the traditional Law Enforcement Torch Run are happening this year. The Stearns County leg along Highway 10 was not selected.

The Cop on a Rooftop event is being run in partnership with the Granite Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, and Soyka says officer participation is strictly voluntary.

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