Tip a Cop event draws big crowd Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — Yes, as a matter of fact that was Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr opening the door for patrons at the Rock Top restaurant Wednesday night. And yes, that was Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones serving sandwiches and burgers and fries.

Ken Jones, chief deputy with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, was waiting tables too – and making better tips than the sheriff in the process, he said. But the sheriff said that was because Ken Jones (who’s his brother) had more tables.

Officers from the Moses Lake Police Department and GCSO deputies were delivering food and topping off water glasses for a good cause. Proceeds from the second annual Tip a Cop night went toward the Shop with a Cop program.

“Our goal is to beat last year’s goal,” Tom Jones said. Last year Tip a Cop brought in about $5,000, and “we’d love to beat that tonight.”

The restaurant definitely was busy, with cars spilling over into the parking lot of an adjoining business. “I’m working harder than I did last year, that’s for sure,” Tom Jones said. Diners were kicking in some pretty significant tips – Ken Jones had a $100 bill clipped to his vest. Rock Top employees kicked in a donation as well, along with sponsoring the event.

Sheriff’s deputies and MLPD officers talked with diners and handed out stickers to the kids between filling water glasses and delivering food.

The Shop With a Cop program is all about teaming up kids and law enforcement officers for an evening of Christmas shopping. “We take them in and give them the shopping opportunity of a lifetime,” Tom Jones said. The sheriff’s office has been sponsoring the program for at least a decade, he said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com