Printer Friendly Version - Guilford Takes the Plunge to Benefit Special Olympics

The water temperature was 50 degrees, but the air was just 41 for the Guilford Police Department Penguin Plunge at Jacobs Beach in Guilford on Dec. 1, with all proceeds going to the Special Olympics of Connecticut. From left, Branford Police Officer Joseph Herten, Dominique Ravert, and Madison Police Sergeant Bill Roy make a spirited charge for the warming tent. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier

Decked out in bowties and costumes, Guilford police, firefighters, elected officials, and residents jumped into Long Island Sound on Dec. 1 for a penguin plunge to benefit the Special Olympics.

Spearheaded by the Guilford Police Department, the plunge took place at Jacobs Beach and raised more than $6,000 for Special Olympics Connecticut. Plungers included First Selectman Matt Hoey, State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98), Guilford Police Chief Jeff Hutchinson, Deputy Chief of Police Butch Hyatt, and numerous other cops, firefighters, elected officials, and residents.

Police Lieutenant Timothy Bernier thanked all the sponsors who helped bring the event together as well as volunteers including the Guilford Fire Department that came out and put divers in the water to make sure all plungers stayed safe.

“Thank you for coming out on this cold day,” he said. “Thank you so much for everything you have done, every dollar you raised, and coming out on a day like this and jumping in the freezing ocean to support a cause like this.”

Bernier said the police department has held other events with the Special Olympics, but this was the first plunge. Bernier said there used to be a plunge on the shoreline to benefit Special Olympics that ceased a few years ago, so the police department was glad to be able to bring it back.

Bernier also acknowledged one officer who put in the most effort to get the event off the ground.

“Detective Daniel Morrell put together 95 percent of this event,” he said. “He reached out to a lot of people, pulled a lot of resources, and put a lot of time into this.”

Special Olympics Connecticut Senior Director of Special Projects Lisa Carlone also thanked all those who participated.

“This is awesome—$6,000 is amazing and that is $6,000 we didn’t have yesterday so thank you very much,” she said. “We love working in this community. Everyone is so supportive of Special Olympics so thank you for doing this and I hope you come back and do it again next year.”