Folks step right up to drench a cop

TAMPA -- With one swift motion, Tampa police Sgt. Drew Stertzer flung the ball at the picture of the clown's face, hitting it squarely in the nose.

Capt. Jake Slater's seat gave way, and he fell into the tank of water.

As far as Stertzer was concerned, he was doing Slater a favor.

"I'm sure his wife will be happy he took a shower today," Stertzer said with a laugh.

Slater was among nine people who served as targets Friday inside a dunking booth. Their goal was to raise money for the Special Olympics. A similar effort last year raised more than $680.

The dunking booth, set up outside Police Department headquarters during the busy lunch period on Franklin Street, drew a wide range of amateur pitchers. For a few bucks, they got to exact revenge on co-workers, bosses and law officers.

One of them, Sgt. Joe Caravella, was dressed in full uniform, his gun firmly at his hip.

He was being blamed for all of the traffic tickets issued in the Ybor City area.

"He likes writing tickets, and he likes his officers writing tickets," Cpl. Larry Timmer told the pedestrian crowd. "What kind of car do you drive?" Caravella yelled at the woman in the beige suit who was practically licking her lips as she handed over a few bucks.

Caravella fell into the tank, gun, shoes and all. Steve Cole, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, had come better prepared for his stint.

He wore swim trunks and a Hawaiian shirt and adopted an almost Zen-like approach. Each time he fell in -- at one point, he cried foul because everyone was hitting the target -- he hit the water in a lotus position.

Cole was followed by Maj. Carl Davis, who was the top choice in the department for booth time. "It's either a pat on the back or a slap in the face," Davis said. "I hope I'm well thought of!"

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