First responders regularly work together at emergencies facing decidedly negative situations, but they don’t often have an opportunity to do something fun and positive together.

Inviting fellow agencies to participate in a Polar Plunge was Newtown Police Department’s way of doing the latter, NPD Sergeant William Chapman said while welcoming participants to the Inaugural First Responders Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) last weekend.

The invitation had been extended to all local first responder agencies.

“I’m really excited all of you came out,” he said. “The PD had done this for a few years, and we’ve thought about expanding like this before. We always work as a team on everything else.”

Fifteen local first responders went into the chilly water Saturday morning. Earth Day dawned overcast after some overnight rains, and the air temperature was 55 degrees at 10 am.

According to Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR) Chief Mike McCarthy, the water temperature on April 22 was about 50 degrees. Judging from the sounds of those who went into the water, however, it felt much colder.

Gathering on the shore of Eichler’s Cove on April 22, members of Newtown PD, Botsford Fire Rescue, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue prepared themselves for a quick dip into Lake Zoar.

A few first responders were joined by their children for the plunge. A small group of spectators — fellow first responders and family members, primarily — also gathered for the brief event.

After Chapman welcomed and thanked everyone for joining the event, McCarthy told those planning to go into the water that the town’s dive team was there to offer safety in the event anyone got into trouble in the water.

“If you get out there and know something’s wrong, or if you get out of the water and know something’s not right, talk to us,” he said. “Don’t be too proud. These guys are here to help.”

NUSAR had also set up a changing tent on the beach area, he noted.

Some of those going into the chilly water were barefoot, some wore flip-flops, a few even wore pool shoes. All braved the water, first going in by agency before most returned to the water as a group.

The police department was represented by Chapman, and Officers William Hull and Peter Wlasuk.

Botsford Fire Rescue members Joseph Doherty, Patrick Doherty, Aaron Nezvesky and Lauren Roach participated. Nezvesky, who is also a member of Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, represented that agency as well.

Sandy Hook VFR members Brian Engelke and Brady Dunn also went into the lake.

In addition to McCarthy, NUSAR had Mike Cassetta, Dan Granucci, Hunter Peterson, Connor Rieve and Richard Wilford in the water the entire time the others were running in and quickly back out. The divers went out far enough to be out of the way of the splashing Penguin Plungers, but within quick reach if anything had happened to anyone.

There was plenty of talk about how cold they felt after going into Lake Zoar, but none of the participants had any emergencies.

Before the group disbursed — presumably for much warmer environments — Chapman thanked everyone for participating.

“This is the first of hopefully many Polar Plunges,” he said. “Hopefully this will just continue to grow, and we’ll continue raising money.”

While Chapman served as the emcee on Saturday, he credited NPD Officer Hull for extending the invitations to the town’s first responder agencies.

“He did a good job getting everyone together,” he said.

A donations portal is still available to donate to SOCT through the Newtown 2023 Penguin Plunge. Visit give.soct.org/fundraiser/3134105 for details.

Donors are asked to make sure they indicate which first responder agency they want to support with their donation.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.