The light from the Flame of Hope torch burst through the misty rain as Laurel police officers and Special Olympics athletes held the torch high on June 3 during the organization's Laurel leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
About 20 officers and athletes donned golden shirts with red, bold lettering, declaring themselves runners in the 2015 Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run as they jogged north along Route 1 from the College Park American Legion on Baltimore Avenue to the Laurel Police Department on Fifth Street in the city.
According to Laurel police officer Sgt. Erik Lynn, every year in June officers and athletes run the Flame of Hope to local, state, and national Special Olympics opening ceremonies. The run then kicks off the Special Olympics Summer Games at Towson University, where an opening ceremony will be held on June 5, with a final leg run leading into the weekend's games.
"The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a worldwide effort by law enforcement officers to raise money and awareness to sponsor the Special Olympics," Lynn said. "I've been [at the Laurel Police Department] 12 years. I've probably been doing the Torch Run for about 10 years."
As the Special Olympics began in the 1960s, followed by the Torch Run in the 1980s, Lynn said individuals with intellectual disabilities were finally given the chance to connect with society.
"Years ago, when they were born, they were put in institutions," Lynn said. "They were shunned by society a lot. [The torch run] is all about the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and the Special Olympics has really brought that full circle. … It gives them the ability to not only compete in athletic events, but to have friendships, to give speeches themselves and just be better people and help them be a part of society."
In 2013, Lynn became a larger part of that circle when he represented Maryland law enforcement officers at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea, running nine days through different cities.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Lynn said. "You don't realize how big of a thing it actually is until you see it on that scale."
Having participated in the Torch Run for 13 years, Sgt. Jordan Perretta said the endeavor has become an annual highlight in his career.
"As an agency, for years, we've always been working with the Special Olympics," Perretta said. "To us, we feel it is part of our job. Not just giving back to the community, but we love the Special Olympics."
Whether it's pouring rain or blazing hot, Perretta said, the Torch Run is always fun as people honk their car horns and take pictures from the streets, clapping and cheering for the officers and athletes.
"It means a tremendous amount," he said. "All the athletes get to come out and I get to see them a couple times a year. It's great. We get to see how excited they are about the event and we wish them luck."
During the trek, flashing red and blue lights of police motorcycles led the runners safely through crowded intersections as city vans followed beside and behind the group, carrying water bottles, Gatorade and resting runners. Shortly after, at the Towne Centre at Laurel, all officers and athletes finished strong as they lifted the torch above their heads and ran together.
Special Olympics athlete Ben Stevick, 25, of Laurel, said it felt great to complete yet another run.
"I'm so proud and I enjoy it," Stevick said.
His running buddy and fellow athlete, Will Hudson, 48, agreed.
"I like to run, if my hips don't act up first," Hudson laughed.
On June 4, as the Howard County Police Department continues the journey of the torch to Towson University.
Lynn said the Torch Run is all about supporting the Special Olympics and doing something good for the community.
"It puts [law enforcement] out there in a good light," Lynn said. "With all the bad things police officers are going through, all the bad publicity, this is something that really helps us shine as a police department and makes the citizens of Laurel and the surrounding areas realize that we are the good guys."