GENEVA — When David Loomis comes to Mary’s Diner in Geneva, he expects a good lunch served by a pretty waitress.

Loomis was a little wary of his server in uniform Thursday afternoon, as police officers, troopers and patrolmen took over the trays at Mary’s Diner for the annual Law Enforcement Polar Bear Plunge Tip-a-Cop event. All tips benefit Ohio Special Olympics.

“We had no idea this was happening here today,” Loomis, of Painesville, said. “We just stopped in by chance.”

It was a mini reunion of sorts for the Andover High School class of 1959, as Carol Dillon and Mary Job Orahood, of Andover; Cathi Burnett of Jefferson and Caroline Chapman of Pennline, Pa., shared lunch and conversation at the diner.

The ladies had a lot to talk about, but wouldn’t discuss their high school antics.

“We have a lot of stories we can’t share,” Orahood said with a laugh.

Dillon said she is happy to help the plunge by eating lunch and leaving a tip, but you won’t see her jumping into the frozen lake on Saturday.

“Eating is good,” she said. “Frozen lakes are not so good.”

The lunch shift at the diner was served by Geneva-on-the-Lake Patrolman Randy Douglas and Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Jason Hayes, who didn’t spill anything, David Jones, owner of Mary’s Diner, said.

“They do a great job,” Jones said. “The guys put their all into it, and it doesn’t hurt that we have the best waitresses in the business here to help them.”

Jones donates most of the day’s profit at the restaurant to the Polar Bear Plunge.

Thursday’s Tip-a-Cop event is the official kick off of the 14th annual Law Enforcement Polar Bear Plunge, event coordinator Chandra Brode said.

“We are looking to have a great plunge this year,” she said. “So far we have five confirmed Super Plungers and we are looking at a record registration for the plunge.”

Super plungers donate a minimum of $888 in pledges and jump into the water every hour for eight hours.

The plunge, which will have a Mardi Gras theme this year, begins at 2 p.m. Saturday at Breakwater Beach in Geneva State Park. High school students jump in the lake first at noon, followed by the adult plunge at 2 p.m. Super plungers start jumping into the water at 8 a.m.

“Registration is open until the day of the event,” Brode said. “We will sign people up all the way up until right before the plunge.”

Registration is $100 per plunger and includes a T-shirt and towel, as well as tickets to the awards banquet dinner on Saturday, which will include entertainment by The Four Kings band.

With a large snowfall expected before Saturday, Brode said the plungers won’t let a little snow get in the way of the icy dip in Lake Erie.

“The temperature is supposed to be in the 30s, so that is still pretty warm for a plunge,” Brode said. “We won’t let a little snow get in the way.”

Loomis may not have been overly excited about his server with a badge, but he was excited about his two Harley Davidson raffle tickets.

A new, 2010 Harley Davidson VROD, will be raffled off Saturday. Tickets are $10 each and the prize includes the cycle and an enclosed trailer.

“I already have a Harley,” Loomis said. “I like to ride off the beaten track, in the country.”

Warm-blooded spectators are encouraged to register for the “too chicken to plunge” fundraiser.

“Not everyone wants to jump into the frozen lake, but maybe they want to help out the plunge and Special Olympics Ohio,” Brode said.

The “chickens” stand on the beach and receive a l T-shirt for their sponsorship.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Sharon Bradley at 993-1201. Online registration and the agenda for the event are available at www.polarbearplunge.org.