Naugatuck Officer to Scale Building for Charity

Det. Ronald “Jay” Pugliese has been involved in Special Olympics for nearly a decade.

He’s done a number of charity penguin plunge events, coordinated annual Tip-A-Cop fundraisers and assisted in the Special Olympics Torch Run.

But now, Pugliese is trying something different: vertically ascending the exterior of a building, all while raising money for a good cause.

On June 15, as part of the “Over the Edge” event, Pugliese will rappel off the side of the 14-story State House Square building in Hartford using a harness and rope attachment. 

The spectacle is part of a fund raising effort for the Connecticut division of the Special Olympics. The nonprofit organization provides year-round sports training, and athletic competitions, for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, Pugliese said in an email. The money raised goes straight to the organization.

When asked why he chose to do this event, rather than another type of Special Olympics event, Pugliese said it looked like something new and fun to try.

“You don’t get to rappel over a 14-story building every day,” Pugliese said. “And doing it for such a good cause as Special Olympics made it even better.”

And, he said heights don’t bother him.

Pugliese has already passed the minimum $1,000 goal, having raised raised over $1,100 as of Friday. His new goal is $1,500.

To donate, visit the Special Olympics page here.

WTNH covered the event at Mohegan Sun last year, although that one was a 34-story descent. See the video here.