Water fight benefits Quincy Special Olympics

QUINCY — Water was flying, and police and firefighters (and the occasional bystander) were getting soaked for a good cause Saturday morning at the “Fire and Cop on Top” event in Quincy. Quincy Police Department officers, firefighters from Grant County Fire District 3 and Washington State Patrol troopers had a water fight with anybody who decided to come by to benefit the Quincy Special Olympics. 

The law enforcement officers and firefighters held the high ground in a scissor lift, but there were plenty of children below ready to take aim. Brandon Johnson, East Wenatchee, the Eastern Washington co-director for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, said Quincy officers had participated in previous events in East Wenatchee, but this was something new.  

“This is the first year for Quincy,” Johnson said.  

The water fight was in support of Quincy’s brand-new Special Olympics team, formed earlier this year.  

“All the money gets to stay with the local athletes,” Johnson said.  

The money helps pay expenses for Quincy Special Olympics participants, both for competitions they attend and if they qualify for the state Special Olympics. The winter state games are scheduled for Wenatchee in February.  

At high noon a couple of QPD volunteers were up in the lift in the Akins Market parking lot, with water flying in both directions. Fire district 3 volunteers were getting ready to replace them.  

“Even the chief got involved,” said GCFD 3 Interim Chief Dave Durfee.  

Durfee volunteered for an earlier shift — he had found a dry t-shirt by noon — and said it was a good cause. 

The Law Enforcement Torch Run organization holds events year-round, Johnson said, with the benefits from local events going to local Special Olympics teams.