Cop on Top raises more than $49K for Special Olympics

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Police Officer Scott Dewey accepts a donation from Mayari Vercara at the annual Cop on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics Aug. 16 at Walmart. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)
Police officers, athletes and volunteers solicit donations for West Hawaii Special Olympics at the annual Cop on Top fundraiser Aug. 16 at Walmart. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)
Police Officer William Vickery pulls up donations at the annual Cop on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics at Walmart. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)
Special Olympics athlete Sierra Whiteside, left, accepts a donation at the annual Cop on Top fundraiser Aug. 16 at Walmart. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)
Police Officer William Vickery calls out to customers atop scaffolding for the annual Cop on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics Aug. 16 at Walmart. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)
Police Officer William Vickery pulls up donations at the annual Cop on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics Aug. 16 at Walmart. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)
Special Olympic Athlete Shawn Lehano makes a bucket drop of donations at the annual Cop on Top fundraiser at Walmart. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)
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KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii Police Department officers raised more than $49,000 during the 2018 Cop on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics Hawaii held last week.

From Aug. 16 to 18, law enforcement officers spent their off-duty time perched on top of 14-foot scaffolding at the Kailua-Kona and Hilo Walmart Stores, raising awareness for Special Olympics Hawaii within the community.

West Hawaii officers raised $30,201 in Kailua-Kona and East Hawaii officers collected $18,873. The funds that were raised in East Hawaii and West Hawaii will be used for Special Olympics athletes in those respective delegations.

Over the past 16 years, HPD officers have raised $270,000 to help provide year-round sports training and competitions to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Cop on Top event is the largest Special Olympics fundraiser of the year, and 15 percent of last year’s annual budget was raised through this one event alone.