Local Police Officers Carry Torch For Special Olympics

Police officers will be running on Friday, but they won't be after bad guys. Instead, they'll be supporting the Special Olympics by carrying a torch that will be relayed between police departments across the Peninsula on its way to opening day of the summer games. 

Beginning at 12:34 p.m., South San Francisco police officers will start their run from the corner of Noor Avenue and El Camino Real and continue north on El Camino Real to Arlington Drive, where they will pass the torch off to the Colma Police Department around 1 p.m.

The torch relay begins in Tulare County, and travels north through 21 other counties before arriving in Davis on June 24 for the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games, where it will be used to light the caldron that stays lit for the duration of events. 

Friday on the Peninsula, the torch will be passed between 11 different law enforcement organizations between Menlo Park through Daly City over a span of about two hours. 

Menlo Park Police Officer Josh Russell said he's running this year to spread awareness for the Special Olympics, as well as promote the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. 

He said the run is a good way to show the police department's dedication to staying in shape by running together in front of the community. It also serves as a good team-building exercise which breeds unity within the department. 

Russell said he enjoys running during his off-work hours as a form of healthy stress relief. He said he's seen the benefits of emphasizing physical fitness among his fellow officers and the greater Bay Area community. 

"It's a culture of being active. When you see someone outside running, or biking, you might 'hey, we should all be doing this,'" said Russell. 

Menlo Park Officers will run just under three miles through the city and into Atherton, before handing the torch off to officers in the San Mateo Sheriff's Office, who will take it farther north. 

From there, the torch will travel into Redwood City, where officers in the California Highway Patrol will keep it moving up the Peninsula. San Bruno officers will pass the torch off to South San Francisco police around midday.

CHP Officer Art Montiel, from Redwood City, said his department elected to get involved in a healthy activity to support the worthy cause that is the Special Olympics. 

"This shows that officers are out there and doing some sort of physical activity, and benefitting the community at the same time," said Montiel. 

He said that he hoped the visibility of the event would inspire residents to go outside this weekend and enjoy the warm weather while doing something active and healthy.

"We want people to get out there and not just sit inside the house," said Montiel. 

His sentiment was echoed by Foster City Police Officer Jenna Grimaldi, who will be driving an escort and support car along a portion of the relay course. 

The Foster City Police Department will run alongside officers from San Mateo with the torch. 

She said that it is always important for law enforcement officers to promote exercise, especially in the fight against health issues that plague the community, such as obesity. 

"It's always good for the community to see us doing positive things," she said. 

Grimaldi said she was inspired to get involved in the event this year after visiting the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics three years ago. During her visit, she awarded athletes with medals for their accomplishments, and cheered them on. 

"It was an amazing experience," she said. "The kids are awe-inspiring. They are just amazing, sweet and wonderful. And they are great athletes."

She encourages the community to visit the Special Olympics Summer Games as she did. 

"It's just a great event," said Grimaldi. "The athletes are incredible. They are tenacious and so pure and loving. And they aren't shy to show it. They don't have any reservations about showing what they feel. There's just so much joy and happiness."