Cazenovia police officers raised more than $1,800 last week when they partnered with the local Dunkin Donuts on Albany Street to give away free coffee and T-shirts to raise awareness and funds to support the Special Olympics of New York.

Cazenovia Police Chief Michael Hayes and officers Rich Bennett, Tom Engelman and Krystyna Rottella teamed up with Cazenovia Dunkin Donuts Assistant Manager Hazel Mauzy and local Special Olympics athlete Diane Budnar last Friday, July 17, and gave away coupons for a free coffee or donut with any donation; an official “Cops on Top” T-shirt and a free coffee or donut with a donation of $20 or more; and a T-shirt, free pound of coffee and free donut or coffee with a donation of $50 or more.

All funds raised will be donated to benefit the 65,665 athletes of Special Olympics New York. More than two dozen Dunkin locations and police departments participated across Central New York, including Chittenango, Clay, Cicero, DeWitt, East Syracuse, Liverpool, Manlius, Mattydale and the city of Syracuse.

As of press time, nearly $33,000 had been raised through the program, and donations were still being counted, according to the Cops on Top Facebook page.

The Cazenovia fundraising goal was to raise more than they did last year, which was a little more than $1,500, said Bennett, who helped spearhead the event for the Cazenovia Police Department.

Cazenovia’s final total raised was $1,800.85, more than $300 beyond last year’s effort, Hayes said.

“I’d like to convey my thanks to all participants and the patrons that gave so much,” Hayes said.

Hayes said he and his officers plan to expand their Tops on Cop fundraiser next year, and hope to also get Safetypup, the National Child Safety Council representative, to participant and help direct traffic into the fundraiser.

The purpose of the Cops on Top fundraiser is to bring attention to the fact that there are 64,659 Special Olympics athletes in New York state — that is the largest chapter in North America and the fifth largest in the world. The funds raised help support all the New York athletes who benefit from year-round training and competition at no charge to them, according to organization information.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].