Canton Police Honored By CT Special Olympics

CANTON, CT — Two of Canton's finest showed they're also mighty fine at raising money for Connecticut Special Olympics, winning awards this week for their prowess in helping the organization.

Officer John Phelps and Sgt. David Rodriguez of the Canton Police Department were recognized at this year’s Special Olympics kick-off event on Tuesday.

They were presented with the “Adopt-A-Mile” Award.

In 2022, the Canton Police Department raised $12,500 through the sale of Adopt-a-Mile signs.

The signs were a means to solicit donations for Special Olympics as part of the law enforcement torch run, where representatives from police departments statewide run with the Special Olympics torch through Connecticut's roads.

Canton's awards came at Tuesday's Law Enforcement Torch Run Kick-Off event at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket (within Ledyard).

That same event also saw the induction of two murdered Bristol Police Department members into the Connecticut Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall of Fame Award/Induction: Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy, who were both honored posthumously.

The two were killed last year at the hands of a gunman in what may have been an ambush.

For more information on Connecticut Special Olympics, click on this link.