Cops on a rooftop Friday are raising money

Those police officers standing atop your local Dunkin Donuts as you pull in for coffee at 5 a.m. Friday aren't sharpshooters waiting to pick off your French cruller. They're fundraisers.

Illinois police officers, among the biggest supporters of Illinois Special Olympics, are staking out 98 Dunkin' Donuts rooftops Friday morning and into the early afternoon. They are raising money for their own special arm of the Special Olympics fundraising - the 24th Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Make a donation, get a free doughnut. Donate at least $10, and get a Law Enforcement Torch Run travel mug and coupon for free medium coffee. Other items, such as Torch Run T-shirts and hats, will be sold for various donation amounts.

Participating stores in the Northwest suburbs are: Arlington Heights, 122 S. Arlington Heights Road; Carol Stream, 880 W. Army Trail Road; Hoffman Estates, 1165 N. Barrington Road; Mount Prospect, 1001 S. Busse Road and 820 E. Rand Road; Niles, 7039 Dempster St. and 7525 Harlem Ave.; Palatine, 801 E. Dundee Road; Roselle, 253 E. Irving Park Road and Schaumburg, 477 W. Golf Road and 893 E. Schaumburg Road.

Last year, the combined efforts of 68 departments raised $114,000, This year, an additional 30 departments have joined the effort.

"Support of Special Olympics is as strong as ever," said Illinois Torch Run Director and Channahon Police Chief Joe Pena. "Last year, we were the 5th highest grossing Torch Run program in the world."

Dunkin Donuts also will donate $10,000 to the cause.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run was started in 1986. Each year, more than 3,000 officers cover 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and to the State Summer Games in Normal in June. It is the single largest year-round fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Illinois; and last year, the Torch Run raised more than $2.2 million.