PELHAM – The Pelham Police Department announced on Tuesday, Jan. 15, that its annual Polar Plunge benefitting the Special Olympics has been rescheduled.

Special Olympics of Alabama provide year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. A large part of the funding needed to operate these programs comes from events held by the Alabama law enforcement community. The Polar Plunge kicks off fundraising efforts for the law enforcement community.

The decision to reschedule the event was done out of respect for slain Birmingham police Sgt. Wytasha Carter. Carter’s funeral is set for Saturday, Jan. 19, the same day the Polar Plunge was set to take place.

“While we know this (rescheduling) will impact many people, we, along with our sponsors, believe this is the right decision,” the PPD posted on its Facebook page. “We continue to keep his family, friends and coworkers at the Birmingham Police Department in our prayers.”

The Polar Plunge, held at Oak Mountain State Park, will now be held on Saturday, Jan. 26. All other details remain the same.

Carter died on Sunday, Jan. 13, from a gunshot wound to the head at about 2 a.m. while on a special assignment investigating car break-ins in the downtown Birmingham area.

One suspect was taken into custody and one suspect was also shot. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service took all three to UAB Hospital’s Trauma Center where Carter, a 44-year-old husband, father and U.S. Air Force veteran, was pronounced dead.