Officer Kathy Eiring, 48, of the Cary Police Department (right) — seen with 2015 Olympic participant Coral Brady — became involved in the annual event 10 years ago, just three years after she joined the CPD. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Don’t be be alarmed when you see police officers on the roofs of Dunkin’ Donuts locations across Illinois May 20.

It’s not a stakeout. It’s a fundraiser.

This year’s Cop on Rooftop event will be held statewide from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year marks the 14th Anniversary of the Dunkin’ Donuts Cop on Rooftop event with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois.

This event has been a huge success over the years. Nearly $2.3 million has been raised during this great partnership.

Officer Kathy Eiring, 48, of the Cary Police Department, became involved in the annual event 10 years ago, just three years after she joined the CPD.

“I was kind of the low person on the totem pole,” said Eiring. “And I just fell in love with it.”

Besides the Cop on a Rooftop event, Eiring and her life-partner, Mary Eiserman, regularly get involved in Special Olympic events. Eiring enjoys awarding the medals and Eisererman, a nurse at Lutheran General Hospital, helps with first aid. “It’s a family event.”

According to Eiring, every police department in McHenry County has a Dunkin’ Donuts partner this year. Besides Special Olympics, Eiring gets involved with other special needs citizens and regularly visits the Senior Center. One day she might be answering a domestic battery call, and the next she’s explaining the most recent phone scams to the senior community or sharing lunch with a 4-year-old Down syndrome boy.

“Every day is different,” says Eiring. “I like that I get to work with the community, and I can enforce the law.”

Eiring also works with the Explorers. The Explorers serve about 10 boys and girls from age 14-21. Many of them volunteer their time for the Cop on a Rooftop, and other community events.

“That’s what we need from our young people,” said Eiring. “It’s so rewarding to see some of the kids I mentored become police officers.”

This year’s Cop on Rooftop event will be held statewide from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20.

In 2015, 195 locations participated in Cop on a Rooftop and raised more than $542,000. Dunkin’Donuts visitors may purchase Special Olympic coffee mugs, T-shirts, and pins. They may also sign up for the annual Torch Run and purchase Torch Run merchandise.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. The annual intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two goals: to raise money and to gain awareness for the athletes who participate in Special Olympics Illinois.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run has raised more than $39 million over 30 years while increasing awareness of Special Olympics Illinois athletes and their accomplishments.

Approximately 3,000 officers representing every branch of law enforcement across the state from local police officers to FBI agents will carry the Flame of Hope nearly 1,500 miles, running through thousands of Illinois communities via 23 different legs (routes) to its final destination — the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games in June in Normal.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run has selected “Guarding the Flame Since 1986” as the theme for 2016 and will be using #ILTorchRun30 on social media to inspire officers and departments to spread the word about the 30^th anniversary and how the Torch Run transforms the lives of Special Olympics athletes in Illinois. The 2016 Torch Run takes place June 5-10. To participate go to https://www.soill.org/law-enforcement-torch-run/.