Not many causes or reasons could convince the average person to rappel down a 27-story building. But facing death-defying heights wasn’t enough to deter two Sedona Police Department employees from helping an important and key organization in the sports world.

On Saturday, Dec. 4, SPD Communications Supervisor Mark Coughlin and Dispatcher Teri Tasa scaled the 27-story Cityscape building in Phoenix as part of the annual Over the Edge fundraiser, a global event raising money for non-profit organizations across the world. The Phoenix event annually raises money for Special Olympics Arizona, which brings the cause close to the heart of Sedona PD.

“It really is at the foundation of community policing and our motto, ‘Selfless Service for All,’” Sedona Chief of Police Charles Husted said. “There are some out there in our world unfortunately that will marginalize certain populations within any community and we want to make sure we support all of our youth …. The Special Olympics is just a very special program that allows us to support the teams and families and adds to the fabric of our strong community.”

“SPD has been supportive of the Special Olympics for years,” Husted said. “It’s a natural partnership, he added, since the community service aspect of policing aligns with the principles of the Special Olympics.”

As Coughlin and Tasa prepared to scale Cityscape Phoenix, SPD helped the cause on the ground level. Led by Sedona Officer and SPD Over the Edge Team Captain Catherine Beers, the department set up online fundraisers and in-person tabling events outside Safeway in West Sedona. The initial goal was $5,000 to be raised by the department.

The final tally shattered all expectations, with $11,569 raised by SPD alone.

“Officer Beers took the bull by the horns,” Husted said. “[She] quickly realized
it wasn’t going to be difficult at all to raise $5,000 …. She and others worked very hard to raise the money and raise awareness regarding the Special Olympics. It was simply amazing to see the time they spent.”

Competing against other police departments around Arizona was certainly an incentive to raise that money, and it paid off for Sedona PD. The $11,569 was easily enough to finish first in the team fundraiser, raising $4,000 more than the second-place team, Avondale Police Department.

“It was just an absolutely outstanding effort,” Husted said. “It’s pretty extraordinary for such a small police department to be able to do that compared to statewide and the much larger departments that have many more resources than us.”

After the fundraising efforts proved to be a massive success, it was time for the participants to go through with their commitments. On Dec. 4, Coughlin and Tasa rappelled down the 27-story Cityscape building in Downtown Phoenix. With just a cable saving them from a large plunge to the ground, the two SPD employees scaled the building with smiles on their faces.

“They were thrilled,” Husted laughed. “I do know they both had some nerves and all, but they’re both more courageous than I … In law enforcement any day you don’t know what your future holds, but to me that’s a different risk.”

With another successful Over the Edge event under their belts, all SPD organizers rest with a job well done. The department is involved with several other charitable events and fundraisers with Special Olympics Arizona, including the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. As Chief Husted says, working with the organization
is some of the most rewarding work the department does.

“I’m fortunate to be in a place to help support behind the scenes, our staff and everybody that helps and steps up to support this cause,” he said. “It’s just outstanding.”