Cop On Top Fundraiser Halfway to Meeting Goal

Enfield police officer George Marusak and Sgt. Mark Squires expected to spend Saturday night atop the roof of the Enfield Square as part of the Cop On Top fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics.

Instead, a downpour and lightning storm forced them to vacate their lofty perch around 7:45 Saturday evening, nearly 12 hours after they began their quest to raise $5,000 for the charity.

The two men and a handful of volunteers raised about $2,500 Saturday, so they will return to the roof around 8 a.m. Sunday and stay there until the remaining $2,500 has been contributed.

"We will stay up there until the mall closes at 6 o'clock, or when we meet the $5,000 goal," Squires said.

This is the third consecutive year Marusak and Squires have been involved with Cop On Top. "George came to me with this idea, and we decided to get involved," Squires said. "I have some friends who have a child with Down's Syndrome, so I totally support the cause."

Marusak also has special incentive to raise money. "My son Gabriel has special needs, and I was involved with Tip-a-Cop before my son was born," he said.

Last year, the pair helped raise $6,200 for Special Olympics, and had hoped to exceed that this weekend before Mother Nature intruded. Though that may not be possible, they still were impressed with the generosity of people contributing everything from spare change to good-sized checks.

"We even had a woman from Germany come by with her two-year-old niece," Squires said.