Cops are on Top for charity

February 17, 2022 at 10:14 p.m.

by Joe Gamm

These members of law enforcement are spending 30 hours on the roof over the swimming pool at Capitol Plaza Hotel to raise money for Special Olympics Missouri. From left are, Kyle Renick, of the Cole County Sheriff’s Depatment; Tom Schultz, formerly of Corrections; Jodi Schmutz, of Algoa Correctional Center; Adam Lueckenhoff, of the Jefferson City Police Department; and Adam Koestner, of Algoa Correctional Center. Despite the treacherous weather, they decided to continue their plans for the stay. The group withstood a barrage of sleet and snow as they waved to the Jefferson City Streets Department plow truck driver as he went through the intersection of Missouri Boulivard and West McCarty Street. Some of these participants will later take part in the annual Polar Plunge on Feb. 25-26 at Lake Ozark Public Beach. (Julie Smith/News Tribune)
These members of law enforcement are spending 30 hours on the roof over the swimming pool at Capitol Plaza Hotel to raise money for Special Olympics Missouri. From left are, Kyle Renick, of the Cole County Sheriff’s Depatment; Tom Schultz, formerly of Corrections; Jodi Schmutz, of Algoa Correctional Center; Adam Lueckenhoff, of the Jefferson City Police Department; and Adam Koestner, of Algoa Correctional Center. Despite the treacherous weather, they decided to continue their plans for the stay. The group withstood a barrage of sleet and snow as they waved to the Jefferson City Streets Department plow truck driver as he went through the intersection of Missouri Boulivard and West McCarty Street. Some of these participants will later take part in the annual Polar Plunge on Feb. 25-26 at Lake Ozark Public Beach. (Julie Smith/News Tribune)

Wind howled, making communicating with four men and a woman standing on top of Capitol Plaza Hotel early Thursday morning difficult.

Sleet slammed down on them.

Then it began to snow.

It was late morning, and the law enforcement personnel had been atop the hotel since 6 a.m., as part of the annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Missouri — Cops on Top, said Adam Koestner, one of the brave souls.

Koestner, who works at Algoa Correctional Center, said they will stay on top until noon today. (They have access to a room in the hotel, so they may refresh themselves periodically.)

The goal for this year’s event is to raise $5,000. As of Thursday morning, the officers hadn’t reached $1,000.

They said they’d send buckets down on a rope for people who wish to donate.

Visit 2022 Jefferson City Cops on Top web page (bit.ly/3GRTcwQ) to donate from the  comfort of your home.

Officers atop the hotel included Koestner; Jodi Schmutz, also from Algoa; Kyle Renick, with the Cole County Sheriff’s Office; Adam Lueckenhoff, of the Jefferson City Police Department; and Tom Schultz, a former Missouri Department of Corrections employee.


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