Police to Carry Special Olympics Flame of Hope through Salem

Salem Police will hand the torch to runners from the Marion County Sheriff's Office, who in turn will pass it to state police.

Final leg of 2006 Torch Run for the Special Olympics Photo courtesy: torchrunoregon.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Fourteen members of the Salem Police Department will participate in the Oregon Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run that is passing through Salem, Wednesday, June 27th.

The Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Flame of Hope will pass through Salem in the hands of local law enforcement officers as it makes its way to Hillsboro for the June 29th opening of the Special Olympics Summer Games.

Officer Mark Jantz with Salem Police says the torch is carried across the state before the Summer Games to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Oregon.

The mission of Special Olympics Oregon is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Salem Police Department Chief of Police Jerry Moore who has been running the event for more than 20 years will be participating in the 11-mile route that begins on the south side of town at Delaney Road Park & Ride, as the torch is handed to the Salem Police Department by runners representing the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

The run will continue north on Commercial Street to the Salem Police Department where the officers will be joined by Special Olympic runners. The group will proceed north on Liberty Street and on toward the Marion Street Bridget toward West Salem where the torch will be carried on by Oregon State Police.