Donuts for donors
Fundraiser generates more than $3,000 for Special Olympics
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Fort Dodge Police Department Administrative Assistant Crystal Parra helps draw attention to the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser for Special Olympics on Friday outside Dunkin’ Donuts in Fort Dodge.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Fort Dodge correctional officers Morgan Jeckell, left, and Hannah Glaser draw attention to the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser for Special Olympics on Friday in Fort Dodge.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Fort Dodge Police Chief Dennis Quinn accepts donations for Special Olympics on Friday outside Dunkin' Donuts during the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Webster County sheriff's Detective Harmon Atwood downs a doughnut hole Friday while helping collect donations for Special Olympics during the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Gabriel Peterson, 3, of Fort Dodge, and Samuel Peterson, 2, give Fort Dodge Police Chief Dennis Quinn a donation for Special Olympics on Friday at Dunkin' Donuts in Fort Dodge.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Webster County Sheriff's Detective Alex Winninger helps get donations for Special Olympics on Friday during the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser in Fort Dodge.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Fort Dodge Police Department Administrative Assistant Crystal Parra helps draw attention to the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser for Special Olympics on Friday outside Dunkin’ Donuts in Fort Dodge.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Fort Dodge correctional officers Morgan Jeckell, left, and Hannah Glaser draw attention to the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser for Special Olympics on Friday in Fort Dodge.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Fort Dodge Police Chief Dennis Quinn accepts donations for Special Olympics on Friday outside Dunkin' Donuts during the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Webster County sheriff's Detective Harmon Atwood downs a doughnut hole Friday while helping collect donations for Special Olympics during the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Gabriel Peterson, 3, of Fort Dodge, and Samuel Peterson, 2, give Fort Dodge Police Chief Dennis Quinn a donation for Special Olympics on Friday at Dunkin' Donuts in Fort Dodge.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <BR> Webster County Sheriff's Detective Alex Winninger helps get donations for Special Olympics on Friday during the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser in Fort Dodge.
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Anyone driving by Dunkin' Donuts in Fort Dodge early Friday morning may have spotted law enforcement officers holding signs with the words "Cops love donuts" printed on them.
Lots of other people love doughnuts, too.
The combination of law enforcement, the general public, doughnuts and coffee proved to be a winner for Special Olympics Iowa athletes on Friday.
Special Olympics Iowa joined forces with the Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol for a fundraiser called Cop on a Rooftop. The event takes the tired stereotype about police officers and doughnuts and puts it to good use. During earlier versions of the event, some officers actually stood on the roof of the building.
Friday's event generated more than $3,000 in donations, according to Fort Dodge Police Chief Dennis Quinn. He said there may be some additional donations made via Venmo or credit card that are not included in that total. A complete total will be calculated in the next few days.
"The wonderful people of Fort Dodge once again showed up to support Special Olympics Iowa," Quinn said.
"The representative from Special Olympics Iowa that came to Fort Dodge today was very impressed with what a giving community we have," he added.
Historically, the Fort Dodge community has been a big supporter of the Cop on a Roof Top event. It generated the most donations in the state in 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2024. Last year, Fort Dodge was in second place with $3,364.79 in donations. Only Cedar Falls, with a larger area population to draw from, topped Fort Dodge.