Police Departments Recognized for Support of Special Olympics

Special Olympics Connecticut recently announced and honored the top ten Connecticut Law Enforcement agencies that raised the most funds to support the organization in 2021. Awards were presented to each during a Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut Kick-off event at Foxwoods Resort Casino. The top ten and amounts raised include:

1. Branford Police Department, $31,504
2. Bristol Police Department, $22,968
3. Ridgefield Police Department, $22,086
4. Enfield Police Department, $16,698
5. Waterbury Police Department, $16,090
6. Cheshire Police Department, $15,873
7. York Correctional Institution, $14,422
8. New Britain Police Department, $10,430
9. Avon Police Department, $9,648
10. UConn Police Department, $9,492

Awards were also presented to the Waterbury Police Department for raising $9,525 through merchandise sales, the Ridgefield Police Department for raising $9,000 through the sales of Adopt-A-Mile signs and the Branford Police Department for raising $31,504.42 by hosting a Tip-A-Cop fundraising event.

Additional Award Recipients include:
- Branford Police Department, Connecticut Police Chiefs Association Award
- UConn Police Department, International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Award
- Troop C, Connecticut State Police Award
- York Correctional Institution, Department of Corrections Award
- Hartford Police Explorers, Torch Run Council Award

Law enforcement agencies and departments across the state participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, a year-round initiative that includes events and activities officers host and participate in to support Special Olympics' sports, health and fitness programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their teammates.

More about the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Connecticut is one of the movement's largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicles. In addition to the annual Torch Run, this year-round program involves law enforcement officers from across the state who volunteer their time to organize and host fundraisers including Tip-a-Cop, Cop-on-Top and Jail N’ Bail events.

Law Enforcement Torch Run Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors: Dream Ride, Whelen Engineering, WWE and The Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund. Gold Sponsors: Adams Hometown Markets / IGA Hometown Supermarkets and Papa’s Dodge.
About Special Olympics Connecticut

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 10,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 170 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)

Partner Sponsors: Bozzuto's Inc., Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource Energy, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, The Hometown Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, TD Bank, Raytheon Technologies and WWE.

Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Marcus Communications, N&D Sports, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX.