Officers to Carry Special Olympics Torch to Newberg

LETR continues long tradition of igniting Flame of Hope and officially opening Summer State Games

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) represents a long-standing tradition within the Special Olympics family. During the week of July 11-16, over 800 law enforcement volunteers (Guardians of the Flame) and Special Olympics Oregon athletes will relay the Flame of Hope to Summer State Games, their destination being the Games Ceremonies at Newberg High School Stadium.

The Final Leg of the Torch Run will take place on Saturday afternoon from McMinnville to Newberg and will arrive at Newberg High School at 5:00 p.m. Then, LETR officials will convene for the final Torch procession. Led by more than 75 law enforcement officers, athletes and their coaches will parade into the Newberg High School stadium for Games Ceremonies at 7:30. At the close of ceremonies, a torch bearer and Special Olympics Oregon athlete will run a final lap around the stadium and light the cauldron.
This year’s Torch Run route includes the following legs:

Troutdale to Newberg – 60 miles
Thursday July 14th:
Troutdale to Milwaukee
Jeff Kaer, Portland Police Bureau jeff.kaer@portlandoregon.gov

Friday July 15th:
Milwaukee to Washington County to Sherwood
PJ Steigleder, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office paulste2@co.clackamas.or.us
Pat Tapley, Washington County Sheriff’s Office Patrick_tapley@co.washington.or.us

Ashland to Newberg – 270 miles
Monday July 11th:
Ashland area to Roseburg
Ericka Doran, Medford Police Department ericka.doran@cityofmedford.org

Tuesday July 12th:
Roseburg area to Eugene
Matt Bowersox, Oregon State Police- Roseburg matt.bowersox@state.or.us

Wednesday July 13th:
Eugene to Corvallis
Julie Smith, Eugene Police Department julie.a.smith@ci.eugene.or.us

Thursday July 14th:
Corvallis to Jefferson
Joel Goodwin, Corvallis Police Department joel.goodwin@ci.corvallis.or.us
Alan Lynn, Albany Police Department alan.lynn@cityofalbany.net

Friday July 15th:
Jefferson to McMinnville
Erik Douglass, Marion County Sheriff’s Office edouglass@co.marion.or.us
Brian Frazzini, Salem Police Department bfrazzini@cityofsalem.net
Eric Davenport, Oregon State Police eric.davenport@state.or.us
Adam Dean, McMinnville Police Department adam.dean@ci.mcminnville.or.us

Saturday July 16th:
McMinnville to Newberg
Adam Dean, McMinnville Police Department adam.dean@ci.mcminnville.or.us
Gwen Johns, Newberg-Dundee Police Department gwen.johns@newbergoregon.gov
The torch will arrive at Newberg High School at 5:00 PM.

Brookings to Reedsport – 135 miles
Judy Macho, Reedsport Police Department jmacho@cityofreedsport.org

That weekend—July 15, 16 and 17—some 3,000 Special Olympics Oregon athletes, coaches, and other volunteers will converge on the Newberg area to compete for Olympic medals and ribbons in softball, golf, bocce, track and field, and gymnastics. Athletes have been training for a minimum of eight weeks for the State Summer Games, and must have participated in one of many regional competitions to be eligible to compete this weekend. The public is welcome to come out and watch the competition. Admission is free.

During the Games Ceremonies, an LETR member from an Oregon sheriff’s office will receive the 2011 Ken Davis Unsung Hero Award. This year’s winner is Rock Rakosi, Chief of Police in Myrtle Point. Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a year-round campaign in which officers support Special Olympics Oregon athletes by running the Torch, attending competitions, participating in medal ceremonies, and raising funds through special events so athletes can participate without fees in the sports offered by Special Olympics. In 2010, the Law Enforcement Torch Run program collected nearly $500,000 for Special Olympics Oregon through events like the Torch Run, Tip-A-Cops and the Polar Plunge.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in Wichita, Kansas in 1981. Now a year-round global event, all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run relay. In Oregon, more than 1,000 law enforcement personnel from federal, military, state, county and local agencies participate in the Torch Run, Special Olympics Oregon’s largest grassroots fundraising and public awareness program.

Make sure to check out all the Summer State Games Photos on our Facebook Page