<< Previous   of   Next >> Enterprise/AMY DAYBERT  (click to enlarge) Mark Reed with A.S.A.P. Heating winds up to throw a water balloon at the Lake Forest Park police officers on the Bank of America building in Lake Forest Park Towne Centre on May 9 while police administrative assistant Marja Murray looks on. The annual rooftop event was a fundraiser for the Special Olympics of Washington. Enterprise/AMY DAYBERT  (click to enlarge) A water balloon explodes on a gutter of the Bank of America building, getting Lake Forest Park police chief Dennis Peterson, left, wet on May 9. Peterson and officer Jerome Walker, right, stood atop the building in Towne Centre to raise money for the Special Olympics. Enterprise/AMY DAYBERT  (click to enlarge) Special Olympics athlete and coach Laura Akers proudly displays her Special Olympic medals while she informs others about the Cop on the Rooftop event on May 9 at the Bank of America in Towne Centre.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, Copy editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Cops stand rooftop for Special Olympics

By Amy Daybert
Enterprise editor

Lake Forest Park police officers had people looking toward the sky when they asked for donations for the Special Olympics of Washington on May 9. While some quietly left a donation, others paid a little more for the chance to throw water balloons at the officers who were standing on the Bank of America rooftop.

“My aim wasn’t so good last year but I think I’ve improved,” city manager David Cline said before he picked up a water balloon.

Special Olympics athlete and softball coach Laura Akers of Everett stood in the grass by the building and let people who were passing by know what the commotion was all about.

“Help raise money for the Special Olympics of Washington,” her voice sounded across the lower portion of Towne Centre. Some drivers stopped to make a donation before continuing on their way.

“Hey, it’s better than the dunk tank,” Peterson said when he came down from the roof a little wet from balloons that successfully met their target.

Peterson and other Lake Forest Police officers stood on the roof throughout the day, racking in $2,225.65 by the time the final officer climbed down from roof that evening.

On Sunday, May 11, Sgt. Paul Armbrust sold flower bulbs at the Farmers Market. By the end of the weekend, the total amount officers raised increased to $3,337.75.

The department raised $3,718.43 last summer, according to administrative assistance Marja Murray and hopes to raise $5,000 for Special Olympics of Washington this summer.

Peterson won’t stay out of the dunk tank for very long, though. He and Cline hope to gather more donations in exchange for getting dunked during the Kid’s Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 15 outside City Hall.