Members of Newtown Police Department plan to participate in the Special Olympics Penguin Plunge, a fundraising event for the Special Olympics of Connecticut scheduled for this coming weekend.

Participants will dash into the cold waters of the Long Island Sound at Jennings Beach, 880 South Benson Road in Fairfield. The event starts at 9 am on Saturday, April 6. Through the fundraiser, police officers are seeking donations to the Special Olympics.

All money raised by the event will benefit the Special Olympics, according to police. Newtown police said donations may be mailed to the Newtown Police Department’s Community Services Division at 3 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470.

Checks should be made out to Special Olympics of Connecticut.

Donations also may be made online at [naviga:u]classy.org/team/211750[/naviga:u].

As of midday April 2, Newtown's team had raised just shy of $2,500. Of the 21 teams registered for Saturday's event, Newtown was the fourth highest team at that time in terms of fundraising. 

Also, each June, Newtown police participate in the Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run as a fundraiser for the Special Olympics Games, which are held that month.