New Bern Police Department hosts their 2026 Polar Plunge

NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) - People were freezin’ for a reason Saturday at Lawson Creek in New Bern for the 2026 New Bern Police Department Polar Plunge to support North Carolina Special Olympics athletes.

“We were all focused about getting in and getting right back out, it was a chilly one this year,” said Rachel Rochelle, a New Bern detective.

Chilly waters greeted those brave enough to take the 2026 New Bern Police Department Polar Plunge on Saturday.

“Yeah I could not feel my toes, it was pretty cold right after but bring some clothes and a towel and you’re fine,” said Kaitlynn Litterio, an annual participant.

Despite frigid temperatures, Rochelle says it’s for a good cause.

“As soon as you hit the water it’s like okay, go, go, go, you’re doing this. But obviously we do it because it’s for such a good reason,” Rochelle said.

Those plunging had to raise $75 to do so. All of the money fundraised goes toward sports training, health services and competition for local Special Olympic athletes.

The cause has taken the attention of people like Litterio, who participated for the third year in a row.

“There’s a lot of different ways to help your community, and things you feel strongly about, this is just one of those things that ever since we found out about the polar plunge we’ve come every year,” Litterio said. “The bigger that it gets the more exciting it’s gonna get.”

So many decide to be brave and take the plunge, as New Bern PD likes to say.

“It’s like 15 seconds of freezing cold and then you have something to laugh about with everybody,” Litterio said.

Rochelle also talked about how much it means to the athletes everything goes to and says that’s a special moment when they get to interact.

The New Bern Police Department will also be doing other activities to help reach their fundraising goal.