On a recent cold February morning at Citizens Bank Park, members of the New Britain Township Police Department stepped far outside their comfort zone, and into icy water, for a cause they said was far bigger than themselves.
The department participated in the 2026 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Breakfast Polar Plunge, held Friday, February 20 in Philadelphia, joining law enforcement agencies from across the region to raise funds supporting athletic training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Participants gathered for a morning program and breakfast buffet, where Special Olympics athletes shared their stories and spoke about what participation meant in their lives. Shortly afterward, participants walked to a large water tank, climbed onto a platform, and jumped into frigid water.
“It wasn’t frozen water, but it was freezing cold water,” Chief Richard Clowser said with a laugh.
The 2026 event marked only the second time that this Polar Plunge offered a day exclusively to those in law enforcement. The department became involved during the inaugural year when two officers joined after hearing about the event through connections in the law enforcement community.
“The two officers last year got involved because they had friends in the law enforcement community who were doing it,” Clowser said. “We as a department supported it. We felt it was a good cause.”
By 2026, that initial involvement had grown significantly. Clowser joined the effort personally, along with four New Britain Township officers and one officer from Plumstead Township who joined their team.
“For the size of our department, which is 16, to have five of us participating was a great accomplishment,” Clowser said.
Fundraising played a central role in the department’s participation. Each participant paid a minimum $75 registration fee, then raised additional donations through social media outreach, friends and family networks and community support. Every dollar raised helps fund programming that allows Special Olympics athletes to train and compete at no cost.
The department saw significant growth in fundraising success from year to year. In 2025, the team raised about $200. Entering 2026, the department set an initial fundraising goal of $500. After surpassing that milestone, they increased their goal to $1,000, and exceeded that target as well.
Beyond the plunge itself, the department deepened its connection to the Special Olympics through an additional event. In October, officers participated in a law enforcement Torch Run in Doylestown Borough, coordinated by Central Bucks Regional Police and Plumstead Township Police.
During this event, officers carried the Special Olympics torch nearly two miles from the Central Bucks Regional Police Department to Central Bucks West High School.
“That was worth it in the end to get to see those Special Olympics athletes and to see how excited they were,” Clowser said. “We met and talked with them afterward and took some pictures with them.”
For Clowser, the experience reinforced the importance of departments following through on their commitments to serve all community members.
“As a police department, we have policies on how to deal with people who have special needs, ” he said, “so it’s important for us to show that we are committed to supporting this population.”
He added, “Events like these help improve teamwork and morale within our department,” Clowser said. “There’s a camaraderie and a challenge to come out and participate. It gives us an enjoyable experience together that’s not work-related. We have some fun and laugh together.”
He added that these types of events also help officers reconnect with the community in a different setting.
“These are enjoyable events,” he said. “Compared to what we typically deal with, these events are different and help humanize our officers to the public. They also provide us with some disconnect from what we do on a day-to-day basis.”
Preparation for the plunge was less about physical training and more about mindset.
When asked how he prepared, Clowser said, “I tried not to think about it too much. You psych yourself up, get your adrenaline pumping, and then jump in and have fun with it.”
The department’s involvement also drew positive feedback from residents.
“The community was very appreciative,” Clowser said. I think it adds to them having some additional pride for their police department that serves their community.”
Looking ahead, the department hopes to continue expanding participation in the Polar Plunge. Organizers had recently opened this event to friends and family of law enforcement participants, which Clowser said could help grow involvement even further in future years.
“If that’s available next year and we can get some of our friends and family to join us, I think that would be great,” he said.
As the New Britain Township Police Department emerged from the icy water that February morning, shivering but smiling, the moment reflected a growing commitment to community engagement, inclusivity and service, both in and out of uniform.
These were local officers who willingly stepped into freezing water not for recognition, but to support athletes who demonstrate resilience and determination every day.
And for the officers who took the plunge, the experience was one they were already hoping to repeat.
