Two Oregon State Police Teams Take The 'Plunge' to Raise Money for Special Olympics

The nine-person Oregon State Police team, "Team Copcicles", raised $5,011 to date.

Photograph Source – Oregon State Police Photo #1:Bottom row left to right: Toni Raugust, Bend; Joey Pollard, Bend; Eric Brown, Bend; John Russo, Madras. Top row left to right: Todd Burke, Prineville; Sean Belding, Baker City; Clint Prevett, Madras; Scott Vaughn, Prineville; Devin Mast, Bend Crime Lab. Photo #2:Left to right: Dan Meyer; unidentified penguin; Jay Vogel; Jeromy Hasenkamp.

(BEND, Ore.) - Oregon State Police teams from central Oregon and St. Helens' areas took the "plunge" helping to raise over $6,200 for Special Olympics Oregon when they participated in this year's "Polar Plunge" events in Bend and Portland.

The "Polar Plunge" is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to support Special Olympics Oregon athletes.

Oregon State Police troopers joined hundreds other brave souls by jumping, walking or slowly crawling into the frigid and icy waters of the Deschutes River and Columbia River during two fundraising events.

During this year's "Third Annual Polar Plunge" Bend-area event held Friday, February 27th, the nine-person Oregon State Police team, "Team Copcicles", raised $5,011 to date.

The event's website indicates their team has raised the second highest amount for the Deschutes event, and may end up being the top fund raising law enforcement team.

Last year, their five-person team raised over $3,100.

This year's team members were: Sergeant Eric Brown (Bend)Senior Trooper Joey Pollard (Bend)Senior Trooper Scott Vaughn (Prineville)Senior Trooper Toni Raugust (Bend)Trooper Clint Prevett (Madras)Trooper John Russo (Madras)Trooper Todd Burke (Prineville)Detective Sean Belding (Baker City)Devin Mast (Bend Crime Lab)

Last weekend three Oregon State Police troopers from the St. Helens office, "Team Copcicles West", participated in their first "plunge" into the Columbia River at the Portland-area event raising $1,200.

This year's three member team was: Senior Trooper Jeromy Hasenkamp (St. Helens)Trooper Dan Meyer (St. Helens)Trooper Jay Vogel (St. Helens)

Information about the "Polar Plunge" is available at soor.org/plunge.