UCPD celebrated its 40th anniversary participating in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, running through their jurisdiction to raise money for the Special Olympics.
A group of five UCPD officers, two Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office deputies, 2 spouses of sworn personnel, and three student safety partners gathered Tuesday morning to carry the “Flame of Hope,” the symbolic torch of the Special Olympics, and a Law Enforcement Torch Run flag approximately five miles through their jurisdiction.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is an annual, Southern California event that raises money and community awareness for the Special Olympics. What began in 1981 in Wichita, Kansas has become the world’s largest fundraiser for the Special Olympics.
By registering a team, local law enforcement agencies can compete against each other to see which will garner the most support to reach the organization’s goal of $310,150, according to the Law Enforcement Torch Run website.
So far $218,408 have been raised, $925 of which has come from the UCPD, according to the Law Enforcement Torch Run website.
According to Officer Gary Gaston, money raised by each law enforcement agency stays to support the Special Olympics within its respective communities. That way community members with intellectual disabilities will be the ones that directly receive the benefits, giving them a chance to compete, according to Gaston.
“There’s not a lot of opportunities sometimes for people with these types of disabilities to compete,” said Gaston. “And they really focus on it. They work towards the end and being the best athlete they can in their respective fields, so it’s a really big deal.”
The “Flame of Hope” was handed off to UCPD at the corner of Hollister and Coronado Avenue from participants with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, then carried throughout their jurisdiction in Isla Vista along Embarcadero Del Mar, past the UCPD station and handed off to the Santa Barbara Airport Police.
As the runners set off, accompanying police cars played “Ride Like the Wind” among other uplifting songs along the route. Onlookers in Isla Vista were visually perplexed as the caravan made its way down the street, taking pictures as they ran past. Other community members applauded the runners and their escort as they made their way down Embarcadero Del Mar.
“I’m just honored to be able to be out here with all my colleagues here from UC Santa Barbara Police Department supporting such a great cause,” said UCPD Chief Matthew Bly, one of the 12 participants.
