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LEWISTON — Aroma Joe’s was the scene of a large police presence Thursday morning at 1930 Lisbon St.

Some customers were hesitant to pull in when they noticed police cruisers in the parking lot and were surprised to see officers not only in the lobby and outside, but behind the cash registers waiting on customers and preparing orders.

It was all part of the Tip-A-Cop fundraising event for Special Olympics Maine, whose Winter Games are scheduled for Feb. 25 and 26 in several locations across the state. The alpine skiing competition is set for Feb. 26 at Lost Valley in Auburn.

In addition to helping raise money for a good cause, police Sgt. Desiree Michaud said, the event was a great opportunity to connect with community members.

Lewiston police Officer Olivia Bergeron, second from left, waits Thursday morning with Justin Beliveau, left, and Ryan Bouchard at Aroma Joe’s in Lewiston during a Tip-A-Cop fundraising event to raise money for Special Olympics Maine. The 2026 Special Olympics Maine Winter Games are scheduled for Feb. 25-26 at several locations throughout the state. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Lewiston police Sgt. Desiree Michaud, right, talks with Emma Mederios on Thursday morning at Aroma Joe’s at 1930 Lisbon St. in Lewiston. Several city police officers were in the lobby and outside, as well as preparing orders for customers and working the registers, during their Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics Maine. It was also an opportunity for residents to get acquainted with their local officers. “I think it is important to recognize and show appreciation to our local police officers, especially since they have been compared to ICE, which they are not anything like,” Mederios. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Lewiston police Officer Olivia Bergeron, middle, watches Thursday as a Special Olympics Maine athlete, left, hands Natasha Sanchez a LPD Lewiston Strong Giving Band at Aroma Joe’s on Lisbon Street in Lewiston. Several Lewiston police officers were in the lobby and outside, as well as preparing orders for customers, during their Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics Maine. It was also an opportunity for residents to get acquainted with their local police officers. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Ryan Bouchard, a Special Olympics Maine athlete, hands out a GivingBand on Thursday morning in front of Aroma Joe’s in Lewiston where a Tip-A-Cop fundraising event was taking place to raise money for Special Olympics Maine. The 2026 Special Olympics Maine Winter Games are scheduled for Feb. 25-26 at several locations throughout the state. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Lewiston police Officer Aaron Schmitz prepares an order Thursday morning at Aroma Joe’s in Lewiston during a Tip-A-Cop fundraising event to raise money for Special Olympics Maine. The 2026 winter games are scheduled for Feb. 25 and 26 at several locations throughout the state. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Lewiston police Officer Aaron Schmitz, right, waits on Emma Mederios on Thursday morning at Aroma Joe’s at 1930 Lisbon St. in Lewiston. Several city police officers were in the lobby and outside, as well as preparing orders for customers and working the registers, during their Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics Maine. It was also an opportunity for residents to get acquainted with their local officers. “I think it is important to recognize and show appreciation to our local police officers, especially since they have been compared to ICE, which they are not anything like,” Mederios. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Lewiston police Officcer Cory Chamberlain cashes out a customer Thursday morning at Aroma Joe’s at 1930 Lisbon Street in Lewiston. Several Lewiston Police Officers were in the lobby and outside as well as preparing orders for customers during their Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics Maine.(Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Lewiston police Officer Aaron Schmitz passes an order to a customer Thursday morning at Aroma Joe’s in Lewiston during a Tip-A-Cop fundraising event to raise money for Special Olympics Maine. The 2026 Special Olympics Maine Winter Games are scheduled for Feb. 25-26 at several locations throughout the state. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image

A lifelong resident of Lewiston, Russ stumbled into photography as a college student working toward a career in psychology. His great-grandfather Louis B. Costello was the publisher of the Lewiston Daily...

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