Local law enforcement to wait tables at Bully Ranch April 9 to raise funds for Special Olympics

On Tuesday, April 9, law enforcement officers from the Vail, Avon and Eagle police departments, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and Colorado State Patrol will be serving tables at the Bully Ranch in Vail as part of a national program called “Tip-A-Cop.” This event is not to increase officer salaries, but to raise funds for Colorado Special Olympics.

Officers will use the outing to help serve the restaurants’ dining patrons and to solicit voluntary donations to support programs sponsored by the Colorado Special Olympics.

In partnering with the Police Department’s Tip-A-Cop program, the Bully Ranch at 20 Vail Road will be serving from 5 to 9 p.m. that evening. Police Chief Dwight Henninger says the restaurants’ contribution is extremely generous.

“This is a great example of law enforcement and the private sector teaming up for a good cause,” he said. “We would encourage anyone looking for a good meal and a good cause to make their dinner plans with us.”

Co-owner Sebastian Faessler says the Sonnenalp is thrilled to host the Special Olympics Tip-A-Cop at the Bully Ranch. “The Sonnenalp prides itself on contributing to and being a-part-of the local community; we’re honored to help contribute to a great cause such as this,” he said.

In addition to the Tip-A-Cop program, the department is active in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, which is an international series of torch relays, in which law enforcement officers carry the “Flame of Hope” for Special Olympics athletes.

In Colorado, the run is over 1,500 miles statewide and culminates at the Summer Games held in Grand Junction at Colorado Mesa University June 8-10, where officers join the athletes at Opening Ceremonies in lighting the cauldron to officially begin the Games.  The torch will pass through the Vail Valley on May 12.

Law Enforcement is Special Olympics largest grassroots fundraising organization. Nearly 85,000 law enforcement officers carried the Flame of Hope around 50 states and 35 nations raising awareness for Special Olympics and raising over $58 million.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run and Tip A Cop are two of the four signature events law enforcement annually stages to raise funds and awareness for the 25,000 Special Olympics Colorado athletes. In the past month, law enforcement has staged 6 Polar Plunges with the Avon Plunge occurring Saturday, March 30 at Lake Nottingham.