Elyria police fundraise, build relationships with return of Apple Fest dunk tank

For the second year, patrons of the Elyria Apple Festival will have an opportunity to avenge their speeding tickets or have some fun with their favorite officer as the Elyria Police Department brings back its dunk tank fundraising event. Police Chief James Welsh said the dunk tank was started last year in partnership with the Elyria Police Patrolman's Association and, in its first appearance, the event raised about $4,000 to purchase supplies for classes in Elyria schools. "This will be the second year we've done it at the Apple Festival, and it was a huge success last year," Welsh said. This year the dunk tank will once again raise money to be divided among Elyria's schools, and the department will also be doing a "Fill the Cruiser" event to collect nonperishable food items which will be donated to the Pioneer Freedge food pantry. Donated food items can be dropped off at the department's school resource officer cruiser, which is wrapped in Elyria Schools colors and a likeness of Petey Pioneer. Those who donate food will receive three free balls to throw to try and dunk a member of the EPD. For cash donations, three balls cost $5, seven balls cost $10 and for $20 residents can walk up and press the dunk button. Welsh, who is serving as the lead-off dunking victim on Friday afternoon, said that the event is not only an effective donation drive, but also a chance for his officers to joke and bond with the community. "We thought it would be a fun idea to engage with the residents, where they can come and dunk a police officer," he said. "We are also giving back to the community, but more importantly, it's just something that we as a department can bring to the Apple Festival to engage with the community so they can put a more human side to the badge in a nonenforcement setting." The event also serves as teambuilding for the members of the department, who Welsh said have turned the fundraiser into a playful but heated competition among themselves. The officer who brings in the most donations during their time in the seat – and in the water – will have their name added to a new department trophy. The main strategy for drawing donations is "light-hearted heckling," Welsh said, something that saw himself dunked upward of 70 times last year. The reigning dunk tank champion for the department is officer Dustin Hackney. "Personally I had a really good time last year, and I think I can speak for the rest of my staff when I say that everybody enjoyed it," Welsh said. "Last year we had great weather, so I think if it were rainy and cold that might change our feelings about it, but it looks like we're supposed to have a really nice weekend." Welsh said he knew that as the chief he'd be a target for many would-be dunkers, and he also took care to note that the three members of the department's Traffic Unit would also be taking their turn in the chair. "I'll be there Friday from 3 to 4 (p.m.), and I encourage everybody to come out and test their athletic prowess, see if they can dunk the chief," Welsh said. The Elyria police dunk tank will be operating 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. "We are getting the tank delivered Friday morning, and Chief (Joe) Pronesti and our friends at the Elyria Fire Department will graciously fill up the tank for us with their fire hoses and the most ice-cold water they have, so we appreciate that," Welsh said. The 2025 Elyria Apple Festival will run 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in Ely Square. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.