LIHUE — Kauai Police Department officer Troy Sakaguchi said the KPD Explorers go everywhere with him. He was able to get a break from sitting atop the Walmart rooftop Thursday to ensure the Explorers were safely picked up following their
LIHUE — Kauai Police Department officer Troy Sakaguchi said the KPD Explorers go everywhere with him.
He was able to get a break from sitting atop the Walmart rooftop Thursday to ensure the Explorers were safely picked up following their tour of manning fishnets to collect funds benefiting the Special Olympics, Kauai.
The Explorers worked alongside Special Olympics athletes to collect funds toward its $25,000 goal to get the officers off the rooftop.
“Special Olympics is such a good program,” said Joanne Strader, one of the chaperones for the group. “I love this program. Starting as a parent, I’ve been helping for 10 years, becoming a coach and a chaperone for more than 100 Special Olympic athletes on Kauai who range in age from 8 to older than 55 years old.”
Strader said Special Olympics takes care of these athletes, sometimes for their entire life.
The Cop on Top is one of the program’s signature fundraising efforts where police officers are hoisted atop a store such as the Walmart on Kauai, and help generate funds for the program from shoppers and other supporters.
Sakaguchi and KPD Sgt. Jason Matsuoka were hoisted to the Walmart rooftop at 6 a.m. Thursday with a pledge to remain on the roof until 3 p.m. today, or until the $25,000 goal is met.
