Deputies Trade Badges For Order Pads, Raise Nearly $2,400

(KNSI) – Getting served by law enforcement usually isn’t something to celebrate, but Monday evening at the Texas Roadhouse in Waite Park was the exception.

Members of the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office swapped patrol duties for order pads on August 3rd, working the floor from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. as part of the Tip-A-Cop fundraiser benefiting Special Olympics Minnesota. Tips collected during the shift went to the organization, which provides sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Deputies weren’t alone. They were joined by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Reserves, the St. Cloud Police Department Reserves and the Belgrade-Brooten Police Department, along with several local Special Olympics Minnesota athletes who shared their stories with diners and handed out medals to guests.

The night brought in close to $2,400.

In a social media post recapping the event, the sheriff’s office credited the Texas Roadhouse staff with showing the volunteer servers the ropes and said the total wouldn’t have been possible without the restaurant team’s work and the generosity of the guests who donated.

Tip-A-Cop events are held at restaurants across the country as a signature fundraiser for Special Olympics, with officers taking on serving duties and diners tipping for a cause instead of the service.

___