Download 2011 Police Department Annual Report (2 MB PDF)

SPECIAL OLYMPICS TORCH RUNThe mission of The Law Enforcement Torch Run ® is to raiseawareness of the Special Olympics movement worldwide and tosecure funding for this vital cause. In 1984, the first New JerseyTorch Run was conceived to raise funds and awareness for theSpecial Olympics.Today, the Torch Run travels 950 miles, originating in 27 separate points statewide, andtravels through 384 communities with some 2,700 officers from all branches of lawenforcement participating. The final leg runs into Lion’s Stadium at the College of NewJersey and lights the cauldron for the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics NewJersey Summer Games.The New Jersey branch of this volunteer organization,headed by a team of 50 Torch Run committee members,raises funds through programs that vary from two PolarPlunges, a Motorcycle Run, the Lincoln Tunnel ChallengeRun/Walk, the Adopt-A-Cop Torch Run Program, the PlanePull, numerous Golf Tournaments, and an ever expandingvenue of fundraising initiatives.The Montclair Police Department’s involvement with theSpecial Olympics began in 1996, while a part of Torch Run leg #5 that ran from WestCaldwell to Newark. Shortly thereafter, a new Torch Run leg was created under thecoordination of Deputy Chief Perry Mayers. This new leg, Leg # 18, runs from Verona toBloomfield, running through Montclair, West Orange, Orange, and Glen Ridge. It includesofficers from each of those jurisdictions, as well as agents from the F.B.I. and the FederalAir Marshals Service.ESSEX COUNTY SUMMER GAMESEach year uniformed Officers from Montclair are fortunate enough tobe able to participate, along with other Essex County Law Enforcementagencies, in the Special Olympics Area 9 (Essex County) OpeningCeremonies and Games in Brookdale Park. One of the police officershas the privilege of running the Torch into the Stadium with an athlete. All athletes,teachers, coaches, and police officers then participate in the parade of athletes, with themotorcycles, bicycles, and officers leading the procession and cheering the athletes asthey pass the torch with Officers lined up on both sides of the track.The officers then have the opportunity to watch theathletes as they compete in their events. The greatestmoments of this event are always when the officers have thehonor of being able to present award medals andribbons to each athlete that participates. The smiles and joythis brings to the athletes’ faces is all the confirmation thatthe officers need to know that they are part ofsomething very special. The Montclair Police have beenproud participants in this event for over 15 years.19