Public Information Officer Aaron Lewis chats before getting drenched in water at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Saturday morning.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office staff got a wet start to the weekend during the third annual Soak-A-Sheriff fundraiser at the law enforcement agency’s headquarters in Central Point.

Organized in collaboration with Special Olympics Oregon with the waterworks provided by Jackson County Fire District 3, around 100 attendees gathered to take part in the fun and see the sheriff’s office staff get soaked.

“It’s a good opportunity to interact with the community members in a way that we don’t always typically get to do so,” said Sheriff Nate Sickler, adding, “It generates funds for the (Special Olympics) athletes so they can participate in these activities that are so important for their overall wellbeing and socialization and having a good time, which is really cool.”

Although Sickler’s taken part in the frigid experience for the last two years, he wasn’t too excited about getting drenched again.

“I can’t say I’m too excited about the water, but it’ll be alright … they call it freezin’ for a reason,” Sickler said.

“It takes a team to put everything together … Everybody’s brought a part together for this micro event,” said Brian Kolkemo, a corrections deputy with the sheriff’s office.

The Surfaris’ “Wipeout” rang through the parking lot, beckoning the sheriff’s office staff to prepare for the cold water.

Around a dozen members of the sheriff’s office huddled at the headquarters’ helipad as firefighters with Jackson County Fire District 3 dumped gallons and gallons of cold water on them.

Melissa DiCostanzo, corrections administrative lieutenant for the sheriff’s office, was drenched but happy to do it for a great cause.

“It was freezing cold, but it’s for a great charity,” DiCostanzo said.

Beyond the spectacle of seeing law enforcement officials getting soaked by the fire department, visitors came out to see actor Daniel Zacapa, best known for his role in the coming-of-age classic film “The Sandlot.”

Zacapa played the role of police chief Squidman Palledorous in “The Sandlot,” also making appearances in numerous hit TV shows and movies such as “Seinfeld,” “Chicago Fire” and “Se7en.”

“I’ve got a whole table with pictures from ‘The Sandlot’ and other baseball memorabilia and posters, and all of those proceeds go to the Special Olympics,” Zacapa said.

Moving to Eagle Point in 2019, Zacapa said his favorite part of the region has to be “the mountains and the rivers and the lakes.”

Attending with her two daughters, Jackelynn Hamlin was eager to have her little kids meet Zacapa.

“I figured we’d come out here today for a little mother-daughter day,” Hamlin said, adding, “We saw that the person who played the officer in ‘The Sandlot’ was going to be here, and my daughter just recently watched the movie.”

The Soak-A-Sheriff event also made for a prime opportunity for sheriff’s deputies and other staff to interact with the Jackson County community.

“When we decided to make this event, we also wanted to make it an open house so the community can be involved and see some of the stuff the sheriff’s department does,” Kolkemo said.

“I love the community aspect of it; I also love the camaraderie that we create with the fire department … I think they love doing it because they get to soak us and get us cold and wet,” Kolkemo added.

All of the funds raised during Soak-A-Sheriff went towards Special Olympics Oregon, with organizers continuing to raise money at the Southern Oregon Polar Plunge set for March 2 at the Rogue Valley Country Club.

“The money raised from the polar plunges and this event today all go toward supporting (Special Olympics athletes’) year-round training,” said Kim Andresen, Special Olympics Oregon’s Polar Plunge manager.

The organization aims to raise at least $75,000 in Southern Oregon, with the overarching objective of raising $1 million across the state.

“We’ve already raised over $51,000 for the Special Olympics just here in Southern Oregon,” Andresen said.

The Soak-A-Sheriff event was created during the pandemic, with organizers seeking a fundraising opportunity held outdoors with low risk of COVID spread.

“My favorite part of this event is it’s always fun to see the kids and the polar bear (mascot) and the community that comes out to support it, but also watching people get soaked with the firetruck is pretty fun,” Andresen said.

For more information on the Southern Oregon Polar Plunge, visit soor.org/fundraising-events/polar-plunge-event-details.