Police Officer Arrests People for "Tips"

Dave Carlen had a slight advantage over the other waiters and waitresses at this year's CB Cares gala.

He can arrest people.

The Doylestown police officer, for the second year in a row, came out on top as the waiter who earned the most tips at the Chef & Waiter Gala, the annual foodie fundraiser that benefits CB Cares.

During the event, Carlen "arrested" Doylestown Township Supervisor Barbara Lyons. It took $60 donated from the crowd to win her release.

"She was detained for maybe a minute, because she had a lot of friends there," Carlen said Thursday.

But then Snooki stepped in.

Gina Rubel, who heads Doylestown's Furia Rubel communications firm, dresssed as the Jersey Shore star and made the crowd donate money to hear Lyons sing.

"She got $750 and I had to sing a song. And I did. Out loud," said Lyons, who sings in her church choir and with a group that visits local hospices to sing for the elderly.

In the end, though, Carlen still came out on top. CB Cares director Kimberly Cambra said Carlen raised more than $2,500 in "tips" to donate to the cause.

Carlen worked to retain his title even before the event by personally recruiting guests for his table and asking Doylestown businesses to donate gift certificates and epicurean items to be auctioned during the dinner to help bolster his tips, she said.

Fellow waiters Mike Jerrick and Jennaphr Frederick, FOX29’s Good Day personalities, raised $2,200 and $2,300, respectively, Cambra said Thursday. They brought items from FOX shows House, American Idol and Glee to auction off, helping to boost their take.

Elaine Pasqua entertained as Marilyn Monroe and CB East principal Abe Lucabaugh recaptured his "push-up" champion status by beating out two other waiters, earning tips in the process.

Sporting their aprons for the fifth consecutive year since the gala’s inception were Greg Sante, Jesse Berdinka and State Rep. Marguerite Quinn, who arrived with tray in hand and immediately began earning tips during the VIP reception. 

In all, the volunteer wait staff collected $8,700, and the event overall raised nearly $30,000, Cambra said.

Plans already are underway to make next year's event even bigger and better.

Lyons, who has participated in the gala for years, said the night is a fun way to do good.

"The event brings the CB Cares message home by getting everyone who cares about raising healthier youth together in one room," Lyons said. "It’s heartwarming to see everyone who cares so much in one room having fun. It energizes us to continue on."

And Carlen? He's already preparing for next year.

"I want to make it a three-peat," he said.

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