Law officers will carry ‘Flame of Hope’ to support Special Olympics athletes

The Texarkana, Ark., Police Department is gearing up for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, which will be held on May 21.

TAPD officers will start at 9 a.m. in the Walmart parking lot on Arkansas Boulevard. TAPD Officers will carry the “Flame of Hope” 18 miles down U.S. Highway 67 before passing the torch to officers with the Hope Police Department.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is held in 50 states and in 35 countries raising $20 million annually and recruiting more than 15,000 law enforcement officers from all over the world.

The public is asked to cheer the officers on or honk your horn as they run by.

The department has also been selling event t-shirts for $15. All proceeds go to support the local Special Olympics athletes.

LETR began in 1981, created by Wichita, Kan., Police Chief Richard LaMunyon. He thought the Torch Run would help law enforcement be active in the community and support Special Olympics Kansas. In 1983, LaMunyon presented the program to the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

They decided to endorse Torch Run and became the Founding Law Enforcement Organization.

With the IACP’s support, LETR became the movement’s largest public awareness and fundraising group for Special Olympics.