Law enforcement officers in Warren County will continue their efforts to raise awareness for Special Olympics by competing against one another this week.This week is the statewide Tip-A-Cop event, where officers serve in restaurant settings to help raise funds for Special Olympic athletes.Locally, there will be several events taking place.Members of the Warrenton Police Department will serve at McDonald’s in Warrenton Thursday evening and again Saturday at El Jimador from 5 to 10 p.m.Meanwhile, officers in Wright City and Foristell will also be participating at their respective McDonald’s locations.Event Coordinator Kevin Swofford says this event is just one of many to help bring awareness and funding to Special Olympics.“The community is everything for these athletes, because without it the athletes wouldn’t have the opportunity to participate in the different sports,” expressed Swofford.In Warren County, about 50 to 60 athletes ranging from third grade into their 60s participate in Special Olympics. Warren County offers basketball, bowling and track and field. Softball was recently added as an option.So far this year the committee has taken part in the Polar Plunge and the Torch Run. Swofford says Tip-A-Cop and Over the Edge, which takes place in October, are typically the largest fundraisers.Last year Tip-A-Cop at El Jimador raised $4,000. This year the goal is to raise a total of $20,000 to $25,000 over the course of the year in hopes of exceeding the $19,000 mark from 2016.“Without the community support these guys would be limited to dealing with their disabilities and hanging out with one another,” said Swofford. “It gives them the opportunity to have a more normal life and do things a lot of us take for granted day in and day out.”Patrons supporting the McDonald’s Tip-A-Cop will receive coupons for each $1, $5 or $10 donation they make.There will also be raffle prizes, including a 2017 Honda Pilot Elite and passes to the Warrenton Cinema.Tip-A-Cop