Special Olympic torch speeds through Vacaville
Northern California Summer Games begins Friday in Santa Clara
The Special Olympics of Northern California's Summer Games are slated to begin Friday at Santa Clara University to prove that all athletes have the ability to compete, regardless of ability.
However, before the games can begin, the torch that will eventually bear the Flame of Hope has to make its way through Northern California, carried by three Special Olympics athletes with law enforcement officers in communities throughout the region at their side.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run, now in its 25th year, began its journey June 13 in Napa County and has wound its way through Yolo, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Placer and Sacramento counties — including a ceremony at the state Capitol — where it was handed off to different law enforcement agencies before eventually making its way to Solano on Monday.
There, the torch had stops at the Dixon Police Department, the parking lot of Punjabi Dhaba where it was handed off to the Solano County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol, and the Quik Stop at Orange Drive and Leisure Town Road where it was handed off to the Vacaville Police Department which ran it back to its Merchant Street headquarters before handing it off to the staff at California Medical Facility.
The procession of runners was led by a motorcycle as the Special Olympics athletes as well as runners from the Police Department and various other city departments ran along with them with police cars following at their side.
The athletes in the processional were Dominic Fair, 17; Lexi Norman, 25; and Erick Silva, 28.
“They were our inspiration,” Capt. Chris Polen said. “They were screaming and yelling and telling us to keep going, keep going. They gave us the energy we needed.”
For the first time this year, representatives from other city departments such as the Fire Department, City Manager's Office, City Attorney's Office, Human Resources and Finance departments joined the PD in running.
“It's a great cause,” City Attorney Melinda Stewart said. “I watched them take off last year. It was motivating.”
Stewart liked the camaraderie this year as well as staff members from different departments being able to push each other to keep moving.
Regina Sickels, an analyst in the HR Department, said she liked being part of a city event.
“It was fun, hot and challenging,” she said.
Detective Andrew Yetter said the different departments were a good addition to the event.
“They were great for us,” he said. “They kept our pace up. They're all a little younger, better runners. It shows that we're all one big unified team.”
Yetter liked getting exercise out of the event, but he also liked being part of something beyond his job.
“It's great to be out here with the people that we're supporting,” he said.
The PD staff handed the torch off to the CMF crew, which had 27 staff members running this year.
“(It's) an opportunity to support it together as a team,” Warden Jennifer Benavidez said.
Benavidez hopes to grow CMF's involvement each year.
Polen said the event was an opportunity to give back.
“Our takeaway is doing something more than just for PD and for the city,” he said. “It's giving back to the athletes. The torch represents handing off law enforcement to law enforcement to signify our unity together, our camaraderie together, all for one cause.”
After being transported to CMF, the torch was handed off to California State Prison-Solano and then closed out the day at Travis Air Force Base.
Tomorrow, the torch will be handed off to the Fairfield PD and delivered to Laurel Creek Park, Suisun City police officers and Solano County Probation staff at the Solano Government Center, the Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol at the Suisun boat dock, Vallejo police officers at the Mare Island Ferry Dock, Benicia police officers at the Benicia State Recreation Area entrance.
Finally, the torch will conclude the Solano leg of its tour at the Benicia Police Department, then traverse through Contra Costa and Alameda counties before finally ending up at Santa Clara University in time for the Special Olympics games Friday through Sunday.
For more information, visit Sonc.org/summergames.