UW police officers raise money for Special Olympics

At 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, a ladder truck from the Madison Fire Department will lift Detective Carol Ann Glassmaker and Sgt. Kari Sasso, both of the UW Police Department, along with two city firefighters, up to the roof of the ShopKo store at 7401 Mineral Point Road.

The four will remain there until noon on Sunday, Dec. 12, or until their goal of raising $7,500 in the fourth annual ShopKo Rooftop Torch Run Challenge for Special Olympics Wisconsin has been reached.

Volunteers from both departments will be on hand to cheer them on and collect donations from shoppers. McGruff the Crime Dog and Hot Shot, a member of the UW Police mounted unit, will make an appearance from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11.

This is the second year that Glassmaker and Sasso have taken part in this fund-raiser, but participation in charity events is nothing new for members of the UW Police Department. They have braved the frigid waters of Lake Monona to raise money in the annual Polar Plunge, participated in numerous runs and rides for various causes, and adopted a big family each year during the holiday season. The department has had a Red Cross “One A Week” club for many years, and each year it exceeds the goal of donating 52 pints of blood.

Some officers volunteer for the holiday “Shop With A Cop” program, in which they are assigned a child to take shopping. The kids are given $150 to shop for themselves or their families.

“They always buy for their family,” says Glassmaker. “It’s wonderful to see the excitement in their faces as they pick out nice gifts for them.”

Some staff members also volunteer with their families to ring bells for the Salvation Army.

“We have incredible community involvement on the part of our department personnel, whether it’s Special Olympics, the March of Dimes, prevention of child abuse or donating blood,” says Chief Sue Riseling. She has organized several golf outings to raise funds for the Exchange Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, which serves at-risk families in the Dane County area.

“One of our core values in this organization is to be good citizens where we live and work. It’s part of the culture we’ve grown within the department,” says Riseling. “It is an expectation. If you can’t give your time, then you support in other ways the officers who do.”