Members of Newtown Police Department are getting ready to take the plunge.

Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) continues to plan fundraising events — with COVID precautions in place — and is counting on men and women of all ages and backgrounds to safely support those efforts. In Newtown, that includes the men and women of 191 South Main Street, who for years have participated in Penguin Plunges, Tip-A-Cop events, and Torch Runs.

COVID means this year’s Penguin Plunge will look a little different. In place of large gatherings across the state with groups of people rushing into Long Island Sound and other bodies of water, individual events are being planned.

SOCT Penguin Plunge organizers have encouraged participants to take a cold shower, roll around in some snow, dump ice of their head — anything that mixes participants and cold water, with everything caught on camera and shared via social media using the hashtag #frigidfun. Before, during, and after those “Virtual Penguin Plunge” events, teams are seeking donations for SOCT.

Newtown Police Officer William Chapman says the Newtown Police Department team has a plan for its 2021 Plunge.

“We’re going to be getting a small portable pool and filling it with as much ice and snow as we can get a hold of,” Chapman told The Newtown Bee this week. “Officers are going to be jumping into that.

“There will be cops jumping into cold water, as tradition mandates,” he promised.

Chapman will be joined by at least two other officers — Sergeant Matthew Wood, who is coordinating the local police efforts; and Officer Stephanie McDermott — in taking that plunge later this month.

Special Event: Ice Hockey Skills Challenge

Chapman and Newtown High School Athletic Director Matt Memoli have already done some early SOCT fundraising.

Both men taught themselves how to ice skate this winter, and put those new skills to the test last week.

On Friday, March 12, they faced off on the ice during a Newtown-New Fairfield Nighthawks high school hockey team practice. The brief skills challenge took place at Danbury Ice Arena, where the local team practices and competes.

“In the spirit of Special Olympics, we’re trying something new, and being active, and being brave,” Chapman said ahead of the event, referencing the Special Olympics Athlete Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

The public was invited to view the event on the team’s Facebook page. During the 20-minute event, Chapman and Memoli took part in a few competitions — taking shots on the net, doing timed laps around the rink, and even going around small cones on the ice.

Each challenge was point valued. Nighthawks Assistant Coach Andrew Tammero was on the ice with Chapman and Memoli, explaining each event as they occurred.

According to an e-mail from Chapman after the skills challenge, Memoli "was out to close lead after the first two events, with Chapman just barely edging him out in the 2nd half for the win."

Donations were invited, and were made through the same link that is accepting donations for the police department’s Penguin Plunge pledges.

“It’s all being funneled through the same link, to be much easier for folks to share,” Chapman explained.

As of March 17, the department had officially received $5,178 in donations, according to its SOCT page. The department does not have a fundraising goal this year, Chapman said. Instead, the team is focusing on raising awareness of Special Olympics and its athletes.

“We know and respect that a lot of people are in a really tough place this year,” Chapman said. “Folks who may have easily donated last year may not be in the same position now.

“My focus this year has been on raising awareness,” he added. “A lot of people don’t realize that we have athletes right here in Newtown that participate in Unified Sports, at Newtown High School and Newtown Middle School. Special Olympics is still a thing. It hasn’t gone anywhere.”

To donate to Newtown Police Department’s Special Olympics fundraising efforts, visit https://give.soct.org/newtown-pd. SOCT Penguin Plunge donations will be accepted through April 30.