Gloucester Police Chief to be “Tossed” 200 Feet for Special Olympics

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003

Gloucester Police Chief to be “Tossed” 200 Feet for Special Olympics

GLOUCESTER — It’s not exactly assault and battery on a police officer, but Police Chief Leonard Campanello will be “tossed” from the top of a hotel in Boston later this month to raise money for charity.

Chief Campanello will be rappelling more than 200 feet down the side of the Hyatt Regency in Boston to raise money for the Special Olympics Massachusetts on Saturday, July 19, at 8 a.m. as part of the “Toss Your Boss” fundraising program.

“As a police department we have a responsibility to use our positions to do the best we can for worthy causes such as the Special Olympics,” Chief Campanello said. “I am humbly asking for any contribution, however small, you can make. Thank you in advance for supporting this cause.”

Campanello has even upped the ante by allowing the single biggest contributor to the campaign to choose the outfit he wears — within reason — while being “tossed” from the 27th floor of the hotel.

“Toss Your Boss” is just one of several Gloucester Police fundraising efforts in support of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) — the police fundraising arm of the Massachusetts Special Olympics. In April, the GPD LETR “Tip A Cop” fundraiser broke the state record for a single night event, raising more than $5,200, which broke the previous record of $2,000. On a Wednesday night in April, diners at Giuseppe’s restaurant were able to mingle with GPD officers, including Chief Campanello, and tip them for their service. Attendees included Mayor Carolyn Kirk, City Council President Paul McGeary, other police chiefs in Essex County, and singer-songwriter Allen Estes.

Another Gloucester Police LETR-sponsored event includes the Cruiser Convoy – when the GPD joined with other police departments at the Harvard Athletic Facilities in Allston to become a force of lights and sirens, recognizing the accomplishments of the Summer Games athletes. The department also takes part in the Polar Plunge, when officers took a dip in icy cold waters, and various 5k and 10k races.

The LETR events will culminate in the “Guardian of the Flame” ceremony, when police officers will carry the Special Olympic Torch across the host country of the International Special Olympics, which will be held next in Los Angeles in 2015.

For those wishing to contribute to Chief Campanello’s “toss” off the Hyatt – and potentially deciding on an outfit of your choice – a check can be made out to “Massachusetts Special Olympics” and either dropped off at the Police Station c/o Christina Melillo, or mailed to the Gloucester Police Department, 197 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01938.

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