By Jeff Vorva
For more than 10 years, a group of Palos Heights police officers have gone south to take a Polar Plunge in Manteno.
This year, the cops will stay home.
The frigid water in Manteno will be replaced by frigid water in Palos Heights.
Palos Heights Police will host their first Polar Plunge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 11, in the parking lot belonging to the Palos Baseball Organization, 7701 W. College Drive, just to the rear of the police department.
There will be a pool to jump into with cold water, Torch Run items for sale, and an opportunity for members of the community to donate to a plunger of their choice.
“We wanted to bring it here to our back yard at the station and get the community involved,” Palos Heights Officer Kevin Apostal said. “People can see what it’s all about.”
Monday from the Plunge goes to Special Olympics Illinois.
Usually, 10-12 officers from Palos Heights would go to Manteno, but this new location could draw 20 plungers with a few from neighboring communities.
“What we do for the Special Olympics community is most important, of course,” he said. “Beyond that, you can’t resist the camaraderie that comes about. Friendly competition, if you will.”
Apostal said this is the force’s biggest fundraiser of the year and hopes that, combined with other fundraising, Palos Heights can raise $20,000.
