Police wait tables to raise funds for Special Olympics

Working among the staff at Wings Etc. on Thursday were eight uniformed officers from the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

They hustled back and forth, refilling drinks, busing tables and sweeping floors while they mingled with the capacity crowd.

The officers, who were all off duty, were raising money for local Special Olympics.

They asked patrons for tips, in addition to what people were going to give their servers, that would be used to fund Special Olympics events.

Special Olympics athletes also helped greet people as they entered the restaurant.

One of them was Luke Blattel, who said previous fundraisers helped send him to Greece to compete and to Nebraska, where he played softball.

Blattel said he plays seven sports, including basketball, soccer and track and field.

"It means a lot," Blattel said of the efforts of the Cape Girardeau officers.

Sgt. Joey Hann helped organize the event at Wings Etc. and said most of the people in the restaurant were there for the event.

In previous events, police have raised as much as $2,000 for the Special Olympics, Hahn said.

One of those events is the Polar Plunge, where police and Wings Etc. owner Joe Hobbs were connected.

Future events to benefit the local Special Olympics are a torch run May 18 along Kingshighway and another Tip a Cop event at Texas Roadhouse.

Sgt. Adam Glueck talked about why he thinks Special Olympics is an important cause.

"For me, the very first event I did, I helped award medals," he said. "I could see the appreciation on the face of every athlete. Most of us volunteer to make the community better, and this gives us a direct way to do that."

bkleine@semissourian.com (573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

3047 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.