Mary Johnson Photo
As part of the Connecticut Special Olympics (SOCT) torch run, Branford police officer Joe Herten carried the “flame of hope” through the last part of the leg on Friday en route to East Haven. Herten has participated in this event for 11 years.
“The best part about this event is running with the athletes at the beginning … and, of course, the finish,” Herten said. The athletes ran with the officers for the first mile of the almost seven-mile leg.
Mary Johnson Photo
Herten was one of three Branford officers from to complete the run on Friday. Other law enforcement officials cheered their comrades on along the way. The state police were on hand. All officers wore matching shirts provided by the SOCT.
Emma Zehner Photo
The participants first received the torch at about 2:30 p.m. from the Guilford Police Department at Bill Miller’s castle. For the majority of the run, the officers ran along Route 1, with a detour through the town center. At about 3:45 p.m., the officers passed the torch off to Officer Jim Naccarato and other members of the East Haven Police Department outside of the Twin Pines Diner along Route 1. Here’s the pass off of the torch.
Naccarato remembers carrying the torch in 1995, when the Special Olympics World Games took place in New Haven. One of his friend’s sons participated in the athletic competitions and Naccarato recalled how happy his friend’s son was to see the torch run and other events leading up to the Games. “It’s for a good cause,” Naccarato said.
Mary Johnson Photo
The Branford police department helped to wrap up what was three days of running for the relay. The torch run started in ten different locations throughout the state on Wednesday and ended Friday night at Southern Connecticut State University, the location of the opening ceremonies. Guilford officers either ran or rode. In total, over 1,500 Connecticut law enforcement officials ran about 530 miles, according to the Connecticut Special Olympics website.
Officer Mel Carney, another member of the BPD who helped to carry the torch, joked that the most interesting part of the event was listening to her fellow officers for the duration of the run. Carney has participated in the torch run for other departments, but this is her first time with Branford.
Mary Johnson Photo
The torch run is part of Branford’s four-part effort to raise money for the Special Olympics. Connecticut first formally organized a torch run in 1986, which ended at the Storrs campus of the University of Connecticut. While technically a “run,” some officer took to their bikes and others rode. Over the years, this event has raised over $414 million worldwide and $550,000 in Connecticut. According to Herten, the BPD has been partaking in the run for over 25 years.
In March, the department kicked off the fundraising with the adopt-a-mile program, in which businesses are encouraged to sponsor one or more miles of the run by donating to SOCT. Adopt-a-mile was first started last year as part of a revamping of the department’s fundraising efforts spearheaded by Herten and Sgt. Stosh Konesky.
As a result of their increased emphasis on raising money for the SOCT, the department raised $16,329 total in 2013. In addition, the department was awarded the Comeback Player of the Year Award, which goes to the department that increases fundraising for the Special Olympics by the greatest amount over the course of a year.
As of late May, the department had raised $3,400 from 27 businesses from the adopt-a-mile program.
This year, in mid-May, the department also hosted the dunk-a-cop event, which was also started last year. In addition, on June 2, law enforcement officials took part in the 22nd annual Tip-a-Cop event at Lenny’s Indian Head Restaurant. The officers are still tallying the total fundraising for 2014.
The athletic events took place on Saturday and Sunday at Southern Connecticut State University and Hamden Hall athletic fields. Athletes participated in 21 different sports. Those athletes who advance will participate for Team Connecticut in the USA games in New Jersey from June 14 to June 21.
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