Tired of all those videos of folks having cold water dumped on their heads, even if it is for a good cause? Hang on.
Now, local police officers and firefighters are making a splash with their own challenges to each other. Thursday night, the three members of the Marietta police K-9 unit challenged their neighbors, the Cobb County police K-9 unit.
Challenge accepted, Cobb police said late Thursday. Friday afternoon, it was the Cobb cops’ turns at having icy water dumped over their heads. Smyrna police Chief David Lee and his command staff also took the challenge Friday afternoon.
It may seem silly to some. But millions have been raised through a social media challenge benefiting research into Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The disease, which attacks nerve cells, often leads to paralysis and death, and the average life expectancy is between two to five years after diagnosis, according to the ALS Association.
If you’re challenged, you have 24 hours to be dunked with cold water. Otherwise, you must make a $100 donation to the association. Many have done both, making it a successful campaign for those living with the disease, for which there is no cure.
For metro officers and firefighters, the challenge is for a good cause. And a little friendly wager between colleagues is fun. Here are some of the videos of the challenges:
In Acworth, Chief Wayne Dennard and Lt. Charles Ball accepted the challenge, then promptly challenged others in the department and local chiefs, including Kennesaw police Chief Bill Westenberger.
Acworth police Capt. Mark Cheatham then challenged a family member, Sgt. Paul Smith with the Central Motorway Police Group in Central England.
Kennesaw’s chief accepted the challenge, and helped raise money by accepting bids for the right to the dousing honors:
In Marietta, the police K-9 unit challenged the city’s fire department and Cobb K-9 officers:
Cobb County police accepted the challenged Friday afternoon and then challenged others:
In Paulding County, Col. Jim Walker challenged the sheriff’s office SWAT team to complete the challenge. The SWAT team accepted, then challenged the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, the North Metro SWAT Team (which includes the Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Johns Creek and Dunwoody police departments), and the Paulding sheriff’s office K-9 unit.
And in Cherokee County, the Woodstock police department accepted the challenge and extended it other local agencies, including police in Holly Springs, Canton, Ball Ground, Nelson and the sheriff’s office. Woodstock officers raised $330 and also challenged DA Shannon Wallace.
In Atlanta, Police Chief George Turner accepted Mayor Kasim Reeds’s challenge and then challenged his fellow officers. Police recruits also got in on the fun.
Who will be next? Stay tuned for more videos.
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