ORANGE PARK – Less than two hours into the first of three days of Tip-A-Cop fundraiser, three buckets containing cash-filled envelopes were overflowing.

Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers with the Orange Park Police Department weren’t worried, though. As long as customers at Texas Roadhouse were willing to support Clay’s Special Olympic athletes, they would keep finding more buckets.

The annual event at the busy restaurant on Blanding Boulevard invited law enforcement for three nights. Men and women with badges, many with their service weapons on their hips, filled empty glasses, served warm rolls, cleaned tables and, most importantly, invited customers to be generous.

“This is more of a partnership with the sheriff’s office,” said restaurant manager Chase Arnold. “It’s a great presence, great for the community and great for an important cause.”

Tips collected by the sheriff’s deputies and Explorer Post 987 were separate from tips given to servers.

A year ago, CCSO collected nearly $8,000 at Tip-A-Cop and its Torch Run to send 50 Special Olympic athletes to the Florida State games at Walt Disney World. They hoped to surpass that total this year because no athlete or their family pays to participate.

“We’ve been so busy, we haven’t had a chance to see where we are,” said Sgt. Zack Cox, who runs the county’s Special Olympics program. “We had people come here just for Tip-A-Cop. We also had people staying in the area for The PLAYERS golf tournament. The response has been great.”

One couple from Green Cove Springs arrived and joked, “Is this where we can pay off the sheriff’s office?” They then left hefty tips for servers and athletes.

Cox will join the county’s team May 19-21 at the state games. Athletes will play sports like track and field, basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, cycling, figure skating, flag football, golf, gymnastics, roller skating, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

Deputies greeted customers at the Community Affairs Department, where children were a variety of trinkets. From there, they received a joyous welcome from athlete Dianne McKitrick.

Other athletes also were at the restaurant’s front door while deputies bounced from table to table soliciting donations.

“Anytime they call, anything they need, we’re willing to do it,” Arnold said.

Sgt. Zachary Cox runs the Clay County Chapter. He also will join the team at the state games.