Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics

June 8, 2017

WHO:                          Chief Alfred Durham
                                    Richmond Police personnel

WHAT:                       Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run – Capitol Leg

WHEN:                       10 a.m., Friday, June 9

WHERE:                     Commonwealth Public Safety Memorial, Capitol Square - south of the Patrick Henry Building (1111 E. Broad St.) near the Governor’s Mansion in the Darden Garden

BACKGROUND:       Richmond Police personnel and members of other area law enforcement agencies will participate in the Torch Run’s Capitol Leg at 10 a.m., Friday, June 10. This year, the Capitol Leg of the Torch Run will leave from the newly dedicated Commonwealth Public Safety Memorial located at the Darden Garden on Capitol Square. From there, runners will begin a four mile course to the Richmond Police Memorial Statue in Byrd Park.

Richmond Police also will participate in the Torch Run’s Final Leg, starting 8 p.m., Friday, at the Tuckahoe Rescue Squad and ending at the University of Richmond Robins Center for the start of the Special Olympics games, which the Torch Run benefits.

“The Law Enforcement Torch Run is now in its 32^nd year,” said Captain Harvey Powers, the Department’s Torch Run coordinator. “The torch symbolizes the courage, determination and effort of Special Olympic athletes everywhere.”

This year’s course and destination take the participants to Grace Street, past RPD headquarters and west on Main Street. After circling Carytown, the run will conclude at the Richmond Memorial Statue in Byrd Park.

This year, law enforcement agencies in Virginia have raised 1.3 million dollars to fund the important missions of Special Olympics.