Tampa Police Hold Special Olympics Fundraiser, Mini Expo

Tampa's finest and furriest were on hand at Ruby Tuesday's yesterday with crime prevention and Neighborhood Watch information — and to raise funds for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Twenty percent of select meal checks were donated to Special Olympics Florida, yet the event was also a mini police expo. Police specialty unit and equipment displays were set up in the parking lot, including K-9, bomb squad, mounted patrol and motorcycle officers.

Tampa officers fingerprinted children and signed people up for Neighborhood Watch, too.

Larry Timmer, the regional director for Special Olympics Florida and a Tampa Police Department retiree, said the Law Enforcement Torch Run is coming up for Hillsborough County law enforcement in April. A precursor to the Special Olympics State Summer Games, the intrastate event is the largest grassroots fund-raiser for the Special Olympics.

For information about Special Olympics Florida, visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org. For more informtion about Tampa Police, visit www.tampagov.net/dept_police/.