North Olympic Peninsula law enforcement are poised to carry the torch for the Special Olympic Games and raise money for the games at the same time.
The Peninsula’s Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, which will be June 2, will include a host of local law enforcement officers beginning with LaPush Police Department Chief Bill Lyon kicking off the run at 7:30 a.m. from the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Laird Road, said Clallam County Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron, one of the coordinators.
Donations will be accepted by any of the participating officers. T-shirts, blue shirts with a Washington state map and the logo for the Torch Run, are being sold for $20 each.
Proceeds will go to the Special Olympics, an event that offers sports competition to athletes with intellectual disabilities.
The law enforcement torch run, which began in Washington state in 1982, takes the “Flame of Hope” to the opening ceremonies of the Summer Games, which is at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Criminal justice agencies who are participating in the torch run include the Clallam and Jefferson county sheriff’s offices; the Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend police departments; and the State Patrol, National Park Service, Border Patrol, Clallam Bay Corrections Center and the Coast Guard, Cameron said.
The torch will arrive at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord gates the evening of Friday, June 4, after traveling across the Hood Canal via a canoe by the Port Gamble S’Klallam tribe.
“The canoe idea started last year when the [Hood Canal] Bridge was closed,” Cameron said.
“But it was such a hit that the Special Olympics asked us to do it again.”
During the torch run, Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict will lead a group of walkers for one mile from the Port Angeles City Pier to the Rayonier site, and Jefferson County Sheriff Hernandez is planning to run the Peninsula’s final mile to the Hood Canal.
“It is really important to all of the agencies to have representation in the run,” Cameron said.
Applebee’s in Sequim is helping law enforcement with fundraising this year by providing a pancake breakfast on May 22 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for $8. Tickets are on sale from area law enforcement agencies.
Special Olympics T-shirts are available in sizes small through XXX large and can be pre-ordered by contacting Cameron at the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office at 360-417-2570 or Port Angeles Police Sgt. Glen Roggenbuck at 360-417-4951.
Sequim police can be reached at 360-683-7227. Ask for Officer Maris Turner or Lt. Sheri Crain.
