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February 22, 2023

Algonquin Police Department's team is shown at last year's Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Illinois. This year's mini Polar Plunge will take place March 4 at Carpentersville's Public Works Department.
Steve Peterson
Algonquin Police Department’s team is shown at last year’s Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Illinois. This year’s mini Polar Plunge will take place March 4 at Carpentersville’s Public Works Department.

Features, Sports • February 22, 2023

Area police teams ready for ‘Polar Plunge’; benefits Special Olympics

By

ALGONQUIN — The Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and Carpentersville police departments are participating in a combined fund-raising effort to assist Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL).

All three departments will have teams in the SOILL Polar Plunge Saturday, March 4. The site is at Carpentersville’s Public Works facility, 1075 Tamarac Drive, from 10 a.m. to noon.

“We have participated in Polar Plunge for many years,” Algonquin Police Chief Dennis Walker said. “In addition to the Polar Plunge, they have raffles and games. We have had all kinds of (winter) weather. One year they had to cancel it in Palatine due to the wind. We had a dunk tank but there was a lot of ice around the dunk tank.”

Algonquin Police Department officers participating in the Polar Plunge include: Chief Walker; Sarah Peters, who has led the  fund-raising effort in the past; Officer Steve Skrodzki; Community Resource Officer Mitch Slabinski; Sgt. James Sowirol’s daughter, Brooke.

“Be Cool” is the message participating teams wish to spread for the SOILL’s 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge.

LITH participation

The LITH Police Department team is also looking forward to the Saturday morning event.

“We are thrilled to continue to support the Special Olympics and all of the amazing athletes that participate each and every year,” LITH Police Chief Mary Fracke said. “We hope that this friendly and fun competition between the three agencies helps us to raise both money and awareness for this tremendous cause.”

“The LITH Police Department has made a commitment to helping raise funds and awareness for the 21,000 traditional athletes of Special Olympics of Illinois,” LITH Police Officer and team captain Sgt. Chris Miller said.

“Being able to help raise money for the inspirational athletes of SOILL is always something the LITH Police Department looks forward to every year. We have appreciated all the support we received and are still working to raise money for these awesome individuals,” LITH Police Officer Amanda Schmitt said.

Special Olympics Illinois offers several sports from basketball skills to soccer skills, with regional and state competitions.