Crime & Safety

"Tip a Cop" at Bertucci's in Avon on Tuesday

The proceeds donated will go to the Special Olympics.

Avon, Canton and Simsbury police departments are teaming up with Bertucci's Italian Restaurant staff for a "Tip a Cop" event on Tuesday to raise money for the Special Olympics.

"We're partnering up so we can spread the word together," Lt. Kelly Walsh, spokesperson for the Avon Police Department and organizer of the event, said. "We're looking forward to it....It gets us working with other departments, so we're spreading awareness of [the Special Olympics]...through three towns."

"Tip a Cop" pairs local law enforcement representatives with servers from 11 a.m to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and at the end of the meal, the guests have the option to "tip the cop" as a donation to the Special Olympics.

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"[Officers are] paired up with servers and go to the tables and say why they’re there." Walsh said. "They ask if [the guests] want to make donation above and beyond what they’re going to tip their server."

The serving staff is going to teach the officers where all of the food stations are, so they can help run food.

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Walsh is the Northwest regional coordinator for the state's Law Enforcement Torch Run Council that has raised money for the Special Olympics Connecticut since 1986. For the torch run, officers and athletes carry the "Special Olympics 'Flame of Hope'" throughout Connecticut to various opening ceremonies, ending with the Summer Games in June. The program also runs nationally and internationally, raising about $38 million a year worldwide, according to the Connecticut Special Olympics website.

Avon police first did "Tip a Cop" in 2009 at the former Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub, where Brian Curran, Bertucci's off-premise manager and co-organizer of the fundraiser, previously worked.

"The first one was very successful," Walsh said. "At Bertucci's last year, we raised over $1,000."

Curran contacted Walsh about doing "Tip a Cop" for each initial town and ultimately decided a collaboration was the way to go.

"I wanted to start doing more for the community and contacted Lt. Walsh," Curran wrote in an e-mail. "During the collaboration process, we came up with the idea of doing a Tri-Town event. Some of the driving factors were that the Avon/Simsbury town line runs through our parking lot and that Canton PD has a smaller force which limits their opportunity to hold Tip-a-Cop events."

Special Olympics athletes will be there.

This will be the first year Canton has been involved in the fundraiser. Canton Police Chief Christopher Arciero has worked for more regional efforts and said the department is thrilled to be involved with one that benefits such a great cause. 

“It should be a nice community event,” Arciero said. “We hope we have a great turnout.” 

The Simsbury Police Department has also done "Tip a Cop" before, though separate from Avon.

"It's just a great, great event,” said Simsbury Police Lt. Frederick Sifodaskalakis, who will be there, as will Chief Peter N. Ingvertsen. 

Sifodaskalakis said a half dozen or so officers will be at the event at any given time, working it into their schedules in their off-hours.

"It's a fun time,” he said.

Bertucci's is giving away $100 gift cards. Anyone who pre-orders a delivery or carry out order, comes to eat between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, signs up for the restaurant's e-mail club, or makes a donation will be eligible for the raffle. Donations to Special Olympics Connecticut can also be dropped off at the restaurant, mailed to the Special Olympics headquarters at 2666 State Street, Suite 1, Hamden, CT 06517-2232, or submitted on the Special Olympics Connecticut website.


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