25th Annual Special Olympics Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Jacksonville, Fla.

For Immediate Release
Contact: JSO Public Information Office
              630-2133

Who: Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

What: 25th Annual Special Olympics Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run

Where: Police Memorial Building Front Steps
            501 E. Bay St
            Jacksonville, FL 32202
When: April 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

Why: Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) is hosting the 25th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run 2008 will start in front of the steps of the Police Memorial Building and conclude at the Jacksonville Landing.

To view the 1 mile route map click here. To view the 3 mile route map click here.

Runners, walkers, and bicycle riders from the Sheriff's Office will participate in this year's run. Participants from local Merrill Lynch offices will walk with the Special Olympians.

Participating agencies include the NAS Jax, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigations, U.S. Marshal Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Corrections, Neptune Beach Police Department, Atlantic Beach Police Department, and Jacksonville Beach Police Department. The run will field more than 225 athletes.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is an actual running event in which officers and special athletes run together, bringing the "Flame of Hope" to the Opening Ceremonies of local Special Olympics competitions, state/provincial Games, and National Summer or Winter Games.

The torch will arrive from Nassau County on April 15 and Jacksonville law enforcement runners will carry the "Flame of Hope" to the Jacksonville Landing, where JSO will host a brief reception for participants. Following the run, the torch will be passed on to law enforcement officials in Clay County.

"I am proud of the men and women of the JSO that participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics each year," said Sheriff John Rutherford. "This run demonstrates our commitment to our community and all of its citizens. The Torch Run for Special Olympics also provides us with an event where we can spend time with fellow law enforcement professionals from other agencies, all serving here on the first coast together. Lastly, these runs and walks are an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to health and physical fitness."

The Torch Run raises funds for the Special Olympic World Summer and Winter Games. In 2007, JSO and participating agencies raised more that $8,000 in sponsorships and hat and t-shirt sales. This year's sponsors are: the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Fraternal Order of Police, Pop Warner Football Conference, Greater Jacksonville Youth Athletic Council, the Police Athletic League, First Student Transportation Services and Publix. Merrill Lynch is a national and local sponsor of the event.

Additional Information: The program was created in 1981 by Wichita, KS Police Chief Richard LaMunyon. His ultimate goal was to create conscience awareness in his community about the Special Olympics. His ideas were quickly adopted by the International Association for Chiefs of Police (IACP). And 25-years-later law enforcement agencies world wide participate. Last year, the program raised over $30 million around the world. For more information about the Special Olympics please go to http://www.specialolympics.org.

The mission of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is to protect the lives and property of the citizens of this community, to preserve the peace and to prevent crime and disorder while constantly guarding personal liberties as prescribed by law.
###