PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Cop on Top will return to the roof of the local Walmart on Dec. 1.

 

In a fundraiser for the Special Olympics, law enforcement officers from throughout the county will be camp out on the roof Walmart in the Berkshire Crossings shopping plaza. The officers will stay there until the goal of $55,000 is reached.

 

There will be food, prize raffles, and giveaways in the parking lot during the event. There will also be numerous police vehicles on display.

 

"The event will kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, with the Pittsfield Fire Department hosting the first brave group of officers on the roof and local Special Olympic athletes will light the ceremonial Special Olympic cauldron that will burn throughout the event," reads a release sent out by Pittsfield Police Investigator John Bassi.

 

The event is in its ninth year as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Program. In the last five years, Bassi said local officers have raised more than $500,000 for Special Olympics through a series of events. Cop on Top is the organization's longest standing program to be launched by local officers and it led police to add more events throughout the year.

 

"The Berkshire County LETR Program is the highest grossing fundraising program in the state of Massachusetts," Bassi said.

 

The money goes to Special Olympics Massachusetts and allows some 600 athletes from Berkshire County to participate at no cost because of the fundraising efforts.

 

In March, the Law Enforcement Torch Run's polar plunge will return. Hardy area residents will take a dip in the icy cold waters of Onota Lake to raise another $100 each for the program. The organization added a super plunge option so those who want to raise $1,000 can take a plunge every hour for 24 hours.

 

The super plungers will start on Saturday, March 30. The polar plungers will take their dip on Sunday, March 31.

 

Those are the two largest events for the organization but it sprinkles a number of other fundraisers throughout the year.