MTA Police Present First Annual 'TIP-A-COP' Fundraiser for Special Olympics

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Police Department is continuing its efforts to raise money for the Special Olympics of Maryland by holding its first annual "Tip-A-Cop" event. The event will be held at Red Robin Restaurant, 4 Restaurant Park Drive South, Owings Mills, MD 21117 Saturday, October 13, 2012.

Officers will serve as 'celebrity' waiters during lunch from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. During the Tip-A-Cop fundraiser, Police Officers will collect tips from restaurant guests with 100 percent of the proceeds going the Special Olympics of Maryland. All tips are tax-deductible.

"My officers turn in their handcuffs and badges for an apron on Saturday," said MTA Police Chief John Gavrills. "We're giving 'protect and serve' a whole new meaning as we'll take your order at the Red Robin restaurant in order to support the Maryland Special Olympics."

Tip-A-Cop events are one of the main fundraisers for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, (LETR) which is one of the largest fundraising arms of Special Olympics. LETR, which includes an international series of relay runs and special events like Tip-A-Cop, is presented by more than 85,000 law enforcement officers worldwide to help raise money and public awareness for Special Olympics.

Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically-fit and respected members of society. Special Olympics offer children and adults with intellectual disabilities training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Special Olympics currently serve over 2.5 million people in more than 200 programs in 165 countries.