AUBURN – As part of a yearly campaign to raise money for the Special Olympics, police officers from Auburn will be toting trays, taking orders and cleaning tables at the Ground Round in Auburn Friday night.

The Auburn officers may be joined by cops from Lewiston and the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office as they attempt to raise funds for the yearly Olympic events.

The Special Olympics kick off next week, starting with a torch run involving police officers from all over the state.

On Friday, officers from the street beat all the way up to the highest ranks will be waiting on customers at the Ground Round. While making their rounds, the officers will invite customers to provide “tips” to be handed over to the Special Olympics.

The Modern Woodman of America, a business with offices in Lewiston and Auburn, has offered to match whatever police receive in tips.

Captain Kevin Mulherin has been involved in Tip-A-Cop night for the last several years. This year, he plans to let some of the newer guys dole out drinks and food while he does the grunt work.

“I’m leaning more toward buffing tables this year,” he said.

The Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to more than a million people with mental retardation in over 150 countries.