Claim Jumper Restaurants Hosts Tip-a-Cop to Benefit Special Olympics.

IRVINE, Calif. -- Your favorite police and highway patrol officers, sheriffs deputies, FBI agents and special investigators will be working alongside members of the Claim Jumper staff during Tip-A-Cop 2006. Claim Jumper's 34 locations throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois and Washington will host the event from 5-9 p.m. on Thursday evening, April 27, 2006. (Tip-A-Cop Nevada was held on April 6, 2006.) During the evening, members of the law enforcement community will be assuming everyday restaurant tasks and responsibilities, including greeting and seating guests, serving beverages and meals, and bussing tables. The tips the officers earn will go directly to support programs offered by Special Olympics. Tip-A-Cop has become an annual signature event for Claim Jumper, designed to raise community awareness about Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. In 2005, nearly $123,000 was raised during the evening.

In addition to the uniformed officers, there will be patrol cars, motorcycle units, DARE vehicles, mobile command centers, equestrian and K-9 units on site to help make the evening special. The support from the law enforcement agencies will be strong with departments and agencies committed to having 10-12 uniformed officers per location, including several police chiefs. Athletes and representatives from Special Olympics will also be in attendance to answer any questions guests may have.

Several departments and agencies have become very creative in their Tip-A-Cop marketing and fundraising efforts. Some of these include giveaways for younger guests, personalized department aprons, custom car shows in the parking lot, K-9 demonstrations and even letting guests hold a radar gun on cars speeding past the restaurants.

Claim Jumper Restaurants, open daily for lunch and dinner, operates 37 casual dining restaurants in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada and Washington, with an employee population of nearly 6,000. New restaurants are currently under construction in Fremont, Calif., Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Avondale, Ariz. Construction will begin soon in Wheeling, Ill., and Portland and Tualatin, Ore. A popular dining establishment for families, children, seniors and business professionals, Claim Jumper's menu offers an extensive selection of American favorites prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Founder/CEO Craig Nickoloff opened the original Claim Jumper Restaurant in Los Alamitos, Calif., on Sept. 27, 1977. Visit Claim Jumper Restaurants on the Web at http://www.claimjumper.com.