Torch Run 2010
487 words
By Thonie Hevron
The law enforcement community in Sonoma County is mobilizing. No, it’s not a SWAT call-out, a K-9 deployment or grid search. Cops and deputies, wives, children, dispatchers and administrators are marshalling (okay, sorry about the pun) their resources for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR). Agencies are polling their personnel for volunteers to run, help with the logistic and/or assist with presenting medals to winning athletes.
The run takes the Special Olympic torch across California to the site of this year’s Special Olympic Games which will be held the last weekend in June at the beautiful UC Davis campus. Sonoma County’s involvement begins when the torch is handed off from Mendocino County agencies on Monday, June 21, 2010. It will take two days for the runners to carry the torch from Mendocino to pass it off at the Marin County line on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.
The local leg of the run (another pun: ooh, sorry!) begins where Santa Rosa Police Department relays the torch to Rohnert Park Public Safety Department, Cotati Police Department and in a premier appearance, the Santa Rosa office of California Highway Patrol.
In these tough times, everyone has been touched by the shaky economy. The run is a great way for law enforcement to show support for the Special Olympics. All charities report a decline in their funding. The extra effort we put out may make up some of that difference. But it also makes us feel better. Rohnert Park and Cotati both have been slammed by cut-backs, furloughs, and even lay-offs. This effort is way for us to feel better about ourselves and give back to the community we serve.
Team members will have a t-shirt or tank top paid for by earlier fund-raisers, Running with the Pack and Tip A Cop. The Rohnert Park/Cotati route begins with a hand off from Santa Rosa PD around 8:30 in the parking lot at Latitude’s Restaurant; 5000 Roberts Lake Rd. the team will proceed south to Golf Course Drive. Runners will then turn west to Commerce and go all the way to Old Redwood Highway to pass the torch to Petaluma Police Department participants at Applebee’s Restaurant. Our run is about 6.7 miles even though it may seem much longer.
If you have any questions, please call Terri Mazzanti at 707-584-2648.
Also look for department member participation in the upcoming Relay for Life of Rohnert Park on Saturday 10am through Sunday, June 26-27th, 2010 at Sonoma Mountain Village. This 24 hour event helps raise money for the fight against cancer. You don’t have to be at the event for 24 hours, but any time that you can walk with us would be welcome. RP’s team is called Heroes Helping Heroes. Feel free to sign up on the website at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=20529. Many of us have experiences with family and friend who have suffered from cancer. Please consider this worthwhile cause.
