Participating in Thursday night’s ‘Tip a Cop’ fundraiser for Special Olympics New Mexico were, from left, Los Alamos Police Department Det. Matt Lyon, Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Deputy Pacheco, LAPD Cmdr. Oliver Morris, LAPD Cpl. David Boe and RASO Deputy Martinez. Photo Courtesy LAPD
LAPD Cmdr. Oliver Morris serves beverages at Chili’s in Espanola Thursday during the ‘Tip A Cop’ fundraiser for Special Olympics New Mexico. Photo Courtesy LAPD
LAPD Det. Matt Lyon delivers food to patrons at Chili’s in Espanola Thursday evening. Photo Courtesy LAPD
LAPD Cpl. David Boe waits on a table Thursday evening during a special ‘Tip a Cop’ event to raise funds for Special Olympics New Mexico. Photo Courtesy LAPD
LAPD NEWS RELEASE
On Thursday, December 9, members of the Los Alamos Police Department and Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Office participated in the 2021 “tip-a-cop” event held at Chili’s locations across New Mexico. The “tip-a-cop” event is held to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics athletes across New Mexico. Police officers at multiple locations across the state act as servers and any tips they received are distributed to Special Olympics New Mexico to benefit athletes in their local area and assist with state competition events.
LAPD officers and RASO deputies served food and waited on tables Thursday night at Chili’s in Espanola. Det. Matt Lyon LAPD, Deputy Pacheco RASO, Cmdr. Oliver Morris LAPD, Cpl. David Boe LAPD, and Deputy Martinez RASO worked as servers to promote Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Law Enforcement began partnering with the organization in 1981 and now is a world-wide effort to utilize officers to help champion the cause to enrich athletes and their families lives.
Espanola Chili’s manager Gerardo Oliver and his staff welcomed the officers to help make this event successful.
“This was a great experience for us to help Special Olympics athletes in our area and to learn how busy these restaurant staffers are. The restaurant business has taken a huge impact since Covid-19 and the fact the staff here assisted us is amazing!” he said.
Manager Gerardo Oliver said Chili’s is accepting applications and those interested may apply on-line. Also, those who wish to donate to Special Olympics New Mexico may do so at sonm.org.