Law Enforcement Torch Run today for Special Olympics Washington

Olympia police officers and Thurston County Sheriff's deputies once again teamed up for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics today.

It's a fundraising event for Special Olympics Washington, with both profits from t-shirt sales and donations staying in the state. At 6 p.m. tonight the event has raised $19,300 toward a $25,000 goal. Click here for more info.

The run began at the Safeway on Cleveland Avenue in Tumwater, with law enforcement personnel and Special Olympic athletes Sam Ewing and Sean Pugh running with the torch to the Capitol Building. From there the group ran to Olympia City Hall and then across Lacey to the Nisqually Valley.

For the first time, Thurston County law enforcement personnel and Special Olympic athletes were invited to JBLM for a Passing of the Torch ceremony.

Sheriff Derek Sanders met the group at the Iron Mike Memorial on base. After a brief ceremony which included the Special Olympics motto, an invocation, and the singing of the National Anthem, the torch was passed from Sheriff Sanders to Sam Ewing who passed it to Mateo, a JBLM Special Olympics athlete, who passed it to Colonel Brewster.

Colonel Brewster led a large group of military police on an 8-mile run to meet up with other law enforcement groups from Pierce County. The Washington State Special Olympics games begin tonight and will run through the weekend.