Harwich Police Department Polar Plunge Set For March 16

HARWICH – The police department will hold its fourth annual Special Olympics Polar Plunge on Saturday, March 16 at Red River Beach. The event raises funds to help offset the annual budget for the Special Olympics of Massachusetts.

Local police departments have been assisting with Special Olympics fundraising through the Law Enforcement Torch Run since 1981, but over the past few years Polar Plunges have also raised funds to assist in meeting budget demands.

Deputy Police Chief Kevin Considine, who serves as the Barnstable County representative to the Special Olympics, has organized the polar plunges through his department over the past four years. Last year the plunge, which drew more than 150 participants and another 150 observers, raised more than $45,000.

“We’re looking at being right on track for where we normally are,” Considine said of participation and fundraising. “We’re hoping for great weather.”

The big contributor last year was the 74th recruitment class of Plymouth Police Academy, which donated $22,500, Considine said. The next recruitment class of the academy will beat the event again this year. He estimated about 55 recruits will participate in the plunge March 16.

“We’re very happy to have them back,” said Considine.

Police department teams from Harwich, Orleans, Wellfleet and Sandwich have committed to participate, he said. Three other groups committed in February and a couple more local groups, including the Mid-Cape Sports Group and New England Village Sports Group, also signed up. Considine said he is anticipating numbers similar to last year.

“Typically we see a lot of people doing same day registration,” said Considine.

The goal the Special Olympics organization set for polar plunge fundraising this year is $1 million, Considine said. As many as 15 to 20 polar plunges will be held across the state, and the organization has purchased a plunge trailer to conduct events in areas that are not close to suitable water bodies. Plunge fundraising has already met half of its goal, he said.

The Red River Beach plunge is always a great time and draws a large crowd of observers, said Considine. There are tents for registration and changing and plenty of room on the beach for visitors. Considine said M.A. Frazier Enterprises of Wellfleet is donating all the necessary restrooms and recycling bins for the event.

The visitors and friends of participants are an important component to the fundraising, he said, as they generate additional contributions the day of the event.

Considine has been recognized as a Special Olympics representative and leadership team member. Last June he was selected as a “Guardian of the Flame” to carry the Flame of Hope into the Special Olympics World Games in Germany. He said police officers from around the world who served as guardians bonded with their German counterparts and made lifelong friends.

“It was the most amazing experience I’ve had with the torch run and Special Olympics,” he said. “We ran for four-and-a-half days and the amount of people who came out to events and cheered us on was absolutely amazing.”

The police in Germany did not have a torch run program but have now established torch runs for the benefit of the Special Olympics, he said.

Police departments across the Cape in late spring each year hold a torch run to raise funds and draw attention to Special Olympic events. Police officers start in Provincetown, with officers from each town carrying the torch to the next town, ending in Bourne.

In Harwich, Considine said, the department’s team is doing a good job raising funds. The goal is to reach $5,000; as of February, half of that had been raised. People who want to participate in the plunge and join a team are welcome on the department’s team, he added.

Pre-registration is underway now and anyone committing $100 or more to the Special Olympics will get a free T-shirt. On the day of the plunge registration starts at 10 a.m. and the plunge takes place at 11 a.m.