Vernon Police Department Takes Part In Annual Special Olympics Torch Run

VERNON, CT — Thursday was a stellar day to keep up a longstanding tradition in Vernon — the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch run.

The run made its way through north central Connecticut with participants from the Vernon and Manchester police departments, along with state police. Several teachers from the Vernon school system and a Special Olympian also made the run.

Here are a few highlights:

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics was founded in 1981 by Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon, who sought a way to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics while strengthening ties between law enforcement officers and the communities they served.

The concept centered on police officers carrying the Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” in a relay leading to athletic competitions. The torch run was designed to give officers an opportunity to volunteer with local Special Olympics programs and promote inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.

After several successful years in Kansas, LaMunyon presented the idea to the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 1983. The organization endorsed the Torch Run and adopted Special Olympics as its official charity, helping transform the effort from a regional program into an international movement.

By the mid-1980s, the program had expanded rapidly across the United States. In 1986, more than 13,500 runners participated nationwide. The first international torch runs followed in 1987 in Canada and Jamaica, marking the beginning of the program's global reach.

Today, the Law Enforcement Torch Run is recognized as the largest grassroots fundraising and public-awareness campaign benefiting Special Olympics. More than 100,000 law enforcement officers, corrections personnel and public safety professionals participate annually in dozens of countries and territories.