Nearly a dozen law enforcement officers and personnel from the Manhattan Beach Police Department reported for a different kind of duty Thursday evening at Tin Roof Bistro, where they served customers as part of the “Tip-A-Cop” fundraiser.
The night raised a total of $29,400, with one donor writing three checks for a sum of $25,000. This is, by far, the most money that the Special Olympics of Southern California has raised in one night, said Eloise Crawford, regional director of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley areas.
“We are so excited,” Crawford said. “We are grateful to the officers of MBPD and the restaurant staff of Tin Roof Bistro.”
One hundred percent of the tips and donations received benefits the South Bay’s Special Olympics athletes, three of whom were present.
“It makes me really, really proud that law enforcement plays an important role in helping us out,” said Marco Martinez, a Special Olympics bowler.
The participating MBPD personnel and officers volunteered at the event on their own personal time, and yet, there was an overwhelming response from people who wanted to get involved, MBPD Chief Eve Irvine said.
“It’s just one of the programs that we feel is important,” Irvine said. “We’re having a good time. A lot of us, before we entered law enforcement, were servers.”
