Pasadena Police Officers Run to Support Special Olympics

More than 40 Pasadena Police Department officers, support personnel and community members, ran a 3.5 mile course through Pasadena on Wednesday, as part of the 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics Southern California.

They joined a team of postal inspectors from the Pasadena branch of the U.S. Postal Service, as the teams handed off batons in front of Pasadena Police headquarters.

The Pasadena team, led by Officer Jarvis Shelby, ran from Pasadena City Hall, south on Garfield to Colorado Boulevard, then headed east toward Sierra Madre Boulevard, then continued south to San Marino where they handed off the torch with a team from the San Marino Police Department.

Regionally, hundreds of officers from local, county, state, federal, and military agencies across Southern California joined this year’s LETR event, which will culminate in a special ceremony in Long Beach on Saturday.

The LETR torch event is nearing 45 years old, following its inception in 1978, in Wichita, Kansas, when Police Chief Richard LaMunyon conceived of the run following a medal ceremony at a local Special Olympics event.

The run is now the largest public awareness vehicle and grass-roots fundraiser for the Special Olympics.

Known as “Guardians of the Flame,” law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the Flame of Hope into the Opening Ceremony of local competitions, and into Special Olympics State, Provincial, National, Regional and World Games.

Annually, more than 100,000 law enforcement members carry the “Flame of Hope,” symbolizing courage and a celebration of diversity around the globe.

The officers, representing law enforcement agencies throughout the state, collected donations for their participation and are sponsored by civic groups, local businesses and generous friends.

All funds raised by law enforcement personnel go to the Special Olympics.

More information on the Southern California Law Enforcement Torch Run is available here.