They say first responders are the ones seen running toward emergencies while others are running away from them.

Last Saturday morning local first responders weren’t facing an emergency, but they did run toward something most others would never consider running toward: the very chilly waters of late winter’s Lake Zoar. The Second Annual Newtown First Responders Penguin Plunge took place at Eichler’s Cove.

Newtown Police Department Sergeant Will Chapman welcomed the group on March 16, and thanked them for participating.

“It’s cool to see how many people are here,” he said.

While last year’s event had each participating agency — the police department; Botsford and Sandy Hook fire companies; and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps — go in as a team, and then return to the water as a group, this year Chapman switched things up.

“A big part of this is all of us being here together,” he said. The invitation to participate this year resulted in representation across the board. Every agency had at least one member going into the water.

“We work together in everything else we do in town, so I’d like to come together for a positive, good thing, instead of something tragic,” Chapman said. “We’re all going in together today — one big crowd, everyone all at once.”

Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR) divers also participated in the Plunge again this year. As in years past — Newtown PD has done Penguin Plunge events for many years; it opened the invitation to all local first responders last year — divers were in the water in the event of an emergency. Chapman offered his thanks to that team for being on hand again.

NUSAR Chief Mike McCarthy did a quick pre-Plunge briefing, offering tips ahead of hitting the cold water and pointing out a pair of warming tents on the shore.

Six NUSAR divers went into the water first, positioning themselves about ten yards into the water before the 21 participants ran toward them.

A few family members also joined the first responders going into the water.

Most Penguin Plungers were more than content to run in and then just as quickly exit the water. A few stayed in for an extra minute or two. NVAC member Mary Hanlon beat everyone, staying in the water for a few minutes before exiting with a smile.

The event again served as a fundraiser for Special Olympics Connecticut. Chapman noted Newtown was “just edged out of the top ten for fundraising this past year, but I’m hopeful,” he said, gesturing toward the group around him, “that this is a good sign of us getting into the top ten for next year.

“It’s all about the athletes,” he continued, “but there’s also a little bit of competition between towns.”

The public is still welcome to donate toward the Newtown effort. Donations can be done through the Newtown PD SOCT team page, give.soct.org/team/560726.

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