Springfield Police to participate in Law Enforcement Torch Run

(From the Springfield Police Department)

Springfield Police Department personnel will be participating in the statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) for Special Olympics Missouri on May 28. They will be running in a "local leg" for the southwest Missouri region which will begin at approximately 9: 30 a.m. on Highway 60, just east of James River Freeway. SPD members will begin their leg just as members of the Republic Police Department finish their local leg of the run where the two city limits meet. SPD employees will then run the following route through Springfield.

ROUTE: Start near the southwest city limit on U.S. 60 (Sunshine) just east of James River Freeway, and proceed east to West Bypass. Travel north on West Bypass to Chestnut Expressway. Proceed east on Chestnut Expressway to Ingram Mill, just west of U.S. 65. Turn to go south on Ingram Mill, and end behind 3250 E. Chestnut Expressway.

About the Law Enforcement Torch Run®

The Law Enforcement Torch Run® began over 30 years ago in Kansas as a vision of Chief Richard LaMunyon, who wanted to give his officers an opportunity to participate in something positive. Today, the LETR is held in 50 states and 48 countries around the world. The event raises $42.6 million annually and recruits more than 15,000 law enforcement officers from all over the world.

Missouri's Torch Run

The Premier Partner for Missouri's Torch Run is Shop 'n Save. The Missouri Police Chiefs Association is the founding law enforcement organization for Missouri's Torch Run for Special Olympics. What began in 1986 as a 30-mile run is now a four-day relay covering more than 950 miles with 1,000 runners. It originates in more than 40 locations and culminates at the site of the State Summer Games. 2014 represents the 29th year that Missouri law enforcement officers have supported Special Olympics Missouri.

It's more than a run; the Torch Run is a campaign to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics. The mission of the LETR is to raise both dollars and awareness for Special Olympics. Nearly 200 agencies and 6,500 officers work year-round in Missouri to accomplish this goal; they are some of our greatest volunteers. All funds raised go toward supporting Special Olympics Missouri's year-round sports training and athletic competition programs for more than 16,000 athletes across the state.