VCU news

By Michael Kelly

For the second year in a row, VCU Police partnered with Phi Kappa Sigma’s Delta Upsilon Chapter at VCU for the Dunk-A-Cop fundraiser to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Special Olympics Virginia.

Whether it was fondness, frustration or a sense of charity that brought them, hundreds of members of the VCU community stopped by the University Student Commons Plaza to send some of VCU’s finest into a mid-day bath.

More than 25 officers, including Chief John Venuti and the recent graduates of the 38^th VCU Police Basic Academy, watched helplessly from their perch in the tank while students, faculty, and staff hurled the softballs that sent them into the water.

“At the VCU Police Department, we take any opportunity to engage with and support student groups,” said Venuti.

Participants chose whether to buy tosses in an attempt to earn their dunk or donate $10 for a guaranteed dunk by hitting the target with their hands. Those who tried their luck with throws withstood some good-natured trash talk from Venuti and other officers who did their best to heckle and distract the aspiring pitchers.

“You may have to find a new fraternity after this,” Venuti told one Phi Kappa Sigma brother whose first two throws missed the mark. The undaunted hurler found the target on his third toss, silencing Venuti and sending him into the water yet again.

For some officers the opportunity to dunk a coworker was too much to resist. After several students sent Assistant Police Chief Chris Preuss into the water, Captain Mike O’Berry stepped up and connected on his first throw, sending Preuss crashing back into the tank.

This year’s Dunk-A-Cop raised $1,400 to be split between the two charities, up from the $1,200 raised during last year’s inaugural event.

"Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity was proud to partner with the VCU Police Department for the second year for our Charity Dunk-A-Cop 2013 fundraiser, which yielded $1,400 in proceeds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Special Olympics Virginia,” said Khiem Tran, philanthropy chair for Phi Kappa Sigma’s Delta Upsilon chapter. “We were overwhelmed with support from the VCU Police, the Greek community, sponsors, and all participants."

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