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Caroline County sheriff, deputies brave their first Polar Bear Plunge

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SANDY POINT – Despite waiting in the frigid rain, brisk breeze and cold sand, Caroline County Sheriff Donald Baker and five deputies raced into the icy Chesapeake Bay for their first Polar Bear Plunge Friday, Jan. 31, at Sandy Point State Park.

The Maryland State Police fundraiser for Special Olympics Maryland has reached its 29th year, and hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the state gathered for fun and camaraderie on the last Friday in January.

The temperatures were in the 30s with gray skies threatening rain, which finally fell just as plungers representing police, fire, EMS and military personnel gathered on the beach to support over 19,000 athletes and Unified® teammates.

“It was very, very cold. Very cold,” Cpl. Brent Beck said after he warmed up inside. Merely anticipating how cold the water was going to be “was breathtaking.”

Still, Beck said he was glad he participated. “I’ll definitely do it again,” he said.

“It's a great event. A super plunger – it’s not gonna be me, but I'll be back.”

Braving the icy temps and “freezin’ for a reason” with Baker and Beck were Cpl. Mark Hopkins, Deputy Jaden Rowan, Deputy Aaron Grauel and Deputy Trenton Hillard.

“It's a really cool opportunity for our office,” Hopkins said. “It means a lot to our community, (which has) several Special Olympics members.”

Past Hall of Famer and “Super Plunger” Rick Barton of Denton didn’t participate this year in the event in which plungers splash into the Bay once an hour for 24 hours, but he was on hand to encourage others and reconnect with old friends.

Over the past 20 years, Barton and his late athlete partner Desiree “Desi” Holland of Hyattsville, another Hall of Famer, raised more than $175,000 for Special Olympics Maryland.

Baker said he had participated in a torch run but had “never done the Plunge.”

“I know Rick (Barton) really well, and we've had conversations before,” Baker said. “It's just something that I've always been contemplating doing. I think it's absolutely a great cause.”

While members of the Sheriff’s Office participated in the Maryland Chiefs & Sheriffs Boardwalk Plunge for Special Olympics Maryland on Sept. 10, 2024, in Ocean City, Maryland, this was the Office’s first time at the MSP Polar Bear Plunge.

Welcoming the Police Plungers and athletes were Special Olympics Maryland CEO Jim Schmutz; Tim Shriver, grandson of the Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver; MSP Commander Roland Butler; and emcee Brandon McLarin.

Earlier in the week, dozens of students from Caroline County’s two high schools participated in the Cool School Plunge and raised over $17,000 for the cause.

Funds raised provide year-round sports and leadership programs for the thousands of athletes and Unified® teammates of Special Olympics Maryland.

“Special Olympics Maryland programs are free to athletes and families thanks to generous community supporters who believe in the Special Olympics mission: to give our athletes opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community,” according to somd.org.