Southington Police Take the Torch for Special Olympics

Since 1987, Southington officers have offered hope and opportunity for those involved in the Special Olympics, carrying the olympic torch on a run from Berlin to Cheshire on it's way to the opening ceremony.

Twenty-five years later, participants continue to carry on the tradition as eight members of the Southington Police Department and Police Explorers Program hit the road, carrying the torch 8.2 miles during the Law Enforcement Torch run Friday.

The Law Enforcement Torch run raises money for Special Olympics. The Berlin Police Department earned an award last year for the amount of money raised for the Special Olympians in Connecticut.

"The Special Olympics have always been near and dear to our hearts," said Capt. William Palmieri, team captain. "All these kids want to do is compete. When you look at the challenges they've been through, it would bring most of us to our knees. This is the least we can do."

Receiving the torch almost 20 minutes later than anticipated, members set a good pace led by marathon runner Jason Plourde, the Southington High School resource officer, as the traveled from Kensington Avenue through the center of Plantsville and into Cheshire.

Plourde said he was proud to be a part of the effort and was doing it in honor of special education students at Southington High School, many of whom he said he shares a friendship with.

Despite lower temperatures, runners had to dig deep to carry the Law Enforcement Torch along the grueling stretch.

Southington took the torch from runners with the Berlin Police Departmet, who were aided along the way by the McGee track team and Special Olympian Max Sznaj of Berlin.

The run Friday started in Newington and traveled through New Britain to the Berlin town line at at Christian Lane as part of leg 7. Officers in Berlin took over and handed it off to Southington before the torch then proceeded through Cheshire and Hamden into New Haven.

The three-day run covered 530 miles and traveled through 100 cities and towns, finishing Friday as hundreds of volunteers run the final legs and carry the torch to kick off the 42nd Annual Summer Games at the Opening Ceremony at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) in New Haven on June 10 at 7 p.m.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is Special Olympics’ single largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness agent. The Connecticut Torch Run Program raises over half a million dollars each year for Special Olympics Connecticut with fundraisers including Tip-a-Cop’s, Cop-on-Top’s, the Torch Run and much more.