Texas Roadhouse Tip-A-Cop Puts Law Enforcement Officers on Serving Duty in Katy, Richmond and Rosenberg
Dinner will come with an extra helping of community spirit when local law enforcement officers step into the dining rooms at Texas Roadhouse restaurants across the Katy and Fort Bend County area for the 2026 Special Olympics Texas Tip-A-Cop event.
Off-duty deputies, police officers and other members of the Texas Law Enforcement Torch Run will assist restaurant servers, greet guests and visit tables while collecting donations for Special Olympics Texas. The main statewide event is scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at participating restaurants. The Rosenberg location is listed as participating on both Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 23.
For families looking for a meaningful place to eat near Katy, Richmond or Rosenberg, the event offers a simple way to support local athletes while meeting law enforcement officers in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.
Tip-A-Cop locations near Katy and Fort Bend County
Texas Roadhouse in Katy
- Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
- Address: 20840 Katy Fwy, Katy, TX 77449
- Donate to the Katy Tip-A-Cop campaign: give.gofundme.com/katy26txrh
Texas Roadhouse in Richmond
- Date:Thursday, July 23, 2026
- Address: 4807 Waterview Meadow Dr, Richmond, TX 77407
- Donate to the Richmond Tip-A-Cop campaign: give.gofundme.com/richmond26txrh
Texas Roadhouse in Rosenberg
- Date:Wednesday, July 22 through Thursday, July 23, 2026
- Address: 24020 Southwest Fwy, Rosenberg, TX 77471
- Donate to the Rosenberg Tip-A-Cop campaign: give.gofundme.com/rosenberg26txrh
Special Olympics Texas’ official event listing confirms the addresses, participation dates and individual online donation pages for all three restaurants.
Money collected through Tip-A-Cop will directly benefit Special Olympics athletes in the region. Donations to the officers are separate from the customary gratuity left for the Texas Roadhouse employees who provide regular table service.
What happens during a Tip-A-Cop event?
Tip-A-Cop gives local officers an opportunity to serve their communities in a noticeably different way.
Rather than making traffic stops or responding to calls, participating officers become volunteer “celebrity servers.” Depending on the restaurant, they may welcome diners, help refill drinks, assist restaurant employees, pose for photographs and talk with guests about Special Olympics Texas.
The informal setting also creates opportunities for residents, officers and Special Olympics athletes to meet one another outside their usual roles. An ordinary family dinner becomes a place where public service, local generosity and the movement for greater inclusion come together.
Special Olympics Texas describes the event as an evening that brings Law Enforcement Torch Run members and athletes together while raising money for year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
A tradition connected to the Flame of Hope
Tip-A-Cop grew from the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, a worldwide public-awareness and grassroots fundraising initiative founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1981 with the support of then-Police Chief Richard LaMunyon.
Law enforcement officers involved in the movement became known as Guardians of the Flame, carrying the Special Olympics Flame of Hope into opening ceremonies and organizing local events to promote acceptance and raise money for athletes.
The first North American Tip-A-Cop event was held at Red Lobster restaurants in the United States and Canada in 1995. The idea expanded into an enduring tradition in which officers trade badges for aprons and invite diners to support Special Olympics programs in their own communities.
Tip-A-Cop is now one of several Law Enforcement Torch Run activities, along with Polar Plunge, Plane Pull, Truck Convoy and Cops on Top events. Collectively, the Law Enforcement Torch Run has raised more than $1 billion for Special Olympics programs since its founding, with money raised supporting programs at the local level.
The Texas partnership has also produced significant results. Special Olympics Texas reported that its 2025 Texas Roadhouse Tip-A-Cop event raised $369,315.25, making it the organization’s largest single-day fundraising effort that year.
How Special Olympics Texas supports athletes
Special Olympics began as a summer camp organized by Eunice Kennedy Shriver for people with intellectual disabilities and became an international movement following the first International Special Olympics Games in 1968.
Special Olympics Texas launched the following year with 350 athletes competing in Waco. The organization has since grown into a year-round network of sports, health, leadership, education and inclusion programs.
Its mission centers on providing Olympic-style sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving athletes opportunities to improve physical fitness, build confidence, demonstrate courage and develop friendships with teammates, families and members of the broader community.
Athletes train before competitions with certified volunteer coaches, while volunteers also serve as officials, event assistants, committee members and mentors. Younger children can begin developing foundational skills through the Young Athletes program before becoming eligible for traditional Special Olympics competition.
The organization’s work extends beyond the playing field. Health and wellness programs address fitness, nutrition, safety and emotional well-being, while athlete leadership and inclusive education programs help people with intellectual disabilities build confidence and take active roles in their schools and communities.
Why the local Tip-A-Cop dinner matters
For residents, participation can be as simple as choosing Texas Roadhouse for dinner, meeting the officers and making an optional donation.
For Special Olympics athletes and their families, those contributions help sustain programs that provide far more than medals. Sports can create routines, friendships, leadership opportunities and a sense of belonging. Health and education initiatives can offer additional support that athletes may not otherwise receive.
The event also creates a shared space for Katy-area and Fort Bend County residents to connect with law enforcement personnel and Special Olympics athletes as neighbors. That personal connection has helped Tip-A-Cop remain a recognizable community tradition for more than three decades.
Residents who cannot attend may contribute through the online fundraising pages associated with the Katy, Richmond and Rosenberg locations.
My Neighborhood News will continue following local events and community initiatives that support families, athletes and organizations throughout the Katy and Fort Bend County area.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
