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The Oakland leg runners passed through Franklin Lakes before meeting up with Mahwah officers, as well as a group of training officers and recruits from the Bergen County Police Academy’s 114th class.
The runners then continued onto the Interstate Shopping Center in Ramsey, where they met up with officers from Ramsey and Upper Saddle River.
The officers got a boost from youngsters who cheered — and even joined them along the route — as the leg continued through the county on its way to the Edgewater Marina.
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Northvale police began their leg of their run, ultimately bound for Fairview, at the local ShopRite at 7 a.m.
Garfield police who set off at 8:20 a.m. passed the torch to their Saddle Brook colleagues, who carried it to Lodi on the torch’s way to Harrison.
More than 3,000 dedicated law enforcement officers today are helping carry the “Flame of Hope” nearly 1,000 miles across the state, with some of the event’s 26 legs stopping or passing through just about every Bergen municipality.
The ultimate destination: The College of New Jersey in Ewing, where the torch will light the cauldron officially launching the Special Olympics New Jersey 2015 Summer Games around 7:30 tonight.
The games run through the weekend, with more than 2,500 athletes competing in seven sports: aquatics, bocce, gymnastics, powerlifting, softball, tennis and track & field.
Last year’s run raised more than $3.1 million.
Allendale P.O. Sean Hubbard honoring Christopher
Goodell as he carried the torch
Wyckoff Police Local #261
“The Torch Run is the culmination of the many hours that members of law enforcement volunteer each year,” retired Port Authority Police Chief Robert Belfiore said.
“It is symbolic of the commitment and dedication that New Jersey law enforcement has for Special Olympics athletes in this state and the camaraderie that has developed between law enforcement and Special Olympics athletes,” he said.
Special Olympics New Jersey relies mostly on individual, corporate, civic and foundation contributions. One of its top grassroots contributors, the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is part of an international campaign coordinated and managed by all divisions of law enforcement officers and officials from throughout the world.
MORE INFO / DONATE: http://www.sonj.org/
Rochelle Park Police Department
Teaneck police, firefighters
Wichita, Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon launched the International Torch Run in 1981. New Jersey held its first run in 1984, from Liberty State Park in Jersey City to Rutgers Stadium in New Brunswick.
The international event has expanded throughout the U.S. to 35 nations and 12 Canadian provinces.
Special Olympics New Jersey provides free year-round sports training and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type sports for more than 23,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Ridgefield PD / CFOs
Hillsdale Police Department
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