Each year, law enforcement agencies team up with local restaurants to put the 'serve' in 'protect and serve' by participating in Tip-A-Cop fundraisers, raising money for the Special Olympics.
Calling the officers "celebrity waiters," the Special Olympics Southern California website says the events are "a favorite way for officers to raise money, and the public loves to have the officers wait on them hand and foot,"
KNX News' Emily Valdez caught up with LAPD's Central Division officers at Urth Caffé in downtown L.A., working hard and collecting tips.
[iframe https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1712872435107!5m2!1sen!2sus!6m8!1m7!1sY_KFdA5Xbvjy01kHq1bg_A!2m2!1d34.04176506052765!2d-118.2353397804918!3f18.70229!4f0!5f0.7820865974627469 allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" style="border:0" width="600"]"All the proceeds and all the tips go towards the Special Olympics. So for training for the athletes, for housing, for whatever they need during the Special Olympics, that's what we're raising money for," Sergeant Gordon Helper said.
He tells Valdez some people were shocked when they first arrived to see police officers delivering food and clearing tables, but the response was "overwhelmingly good."
The Urth event ended at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, but if you missed it, don't stress! There are plenty of local Tip-a-Cop events coming up.
If you want to learn more about the Special Olympics, click here.
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