North Haven police officers took part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics on June 1. The local cops' leg of the trek that hot and sunny day was approximately five miles and took them from the North Haven/Northford town line to Rt. 5.

The NHPD team carried the “Flame of Hope” along the way.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 in Wichita, Kansas and is the largest public awareness vehicle and grassroots fundraiser for the Special Olympics. 

According to Jackie Turro, senior director of special events for Special Olympics Connecticut, around 175 Connecticut law enforcement agencies participate year round supporting nearly 10,000 Special Olympics Connecticut athletes across the state. Discussing the 2023 Torch Run, Turro said, “Today we have people rallying down at Blue Back Square with five different legs running in from different corners of the state and overall we cover over 500 miles with around 1,500 law enforcement officers throughout the course of our three-day event.”

Law enforcement officers carried the “Flame of Hope” into the Special Olympics Connecticut Summer Games Opening Ceremony, which started Saturday in Fairfield.