The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 when Police Chief Richard LaMunyon, of Wichita, Kansas saw an urgent need to raise awareness of and funds for Special Olympics. Police Chief LaMunyon realized the importance of Special Olympics in the lives of Special Olympics athletes and conceived the idea to have law enforcement personnel obtain pledges from their family, friends and co-workers for a Torch Run, known as the “Flame of Hope.”

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP’s) lent its support to this growing movement. With the IACP’s enthusiastic support and leadership, it now includes not only law enforcement officers, but all levels and branches of the law enforcement community.

At the most basic level, the LETR Campaign is an actual running event in which law enforcement and athletes run the “Flame of Hope” to the Opening Ceremonies of local Special Olympics competitions, State Games, and National Summer or Winter Games. As part of the Opening Ceremonies, a law enforcement participant passes the Torch to a Special Olympics athlete to light the flame that signals the opening of the Games.

At its most developed, the LETR Campaign initiative encompasses a variety of fundraising vehicles in addition the Torch Run itself, such as merchandise sales, donations/pledges, corporate donations and special events that have local appeal.

In addition, every two years, law enforcement officers from around the world gather to carry the “Flame of Hope” in a Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg in honor of the Special Olympics World Summer or World Winter Games. The Final Leg is not only a salute to the athletes who compete in the World Games, but also honor for the participating law enforcement officers who make up the Torch Run Final Leg Team.

The Final Leg starts when, in the ancient Olympic tradition, the flame for the Special Olympics World Games is ignited by the rays of the sun opposite the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. This symbolic flame, protected in miner’s lamps, travels to the site of the World Games, where law enforcement officers, representing their state, province or nation, act as “Guardians of the Flame” and carry the “Flame of Hope” to the Opening Ceremonies of the Games.

Final Legs are a series of torch relays that lead up to state, provincial, national or regional Special Olympics Summer Games.

The LETR Campaign began in Washington State in 1982. In addition to the thousands of miles law enforcement personnel has traveled with the “Flame of Hope” to the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Games; hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised each year for local Special Olympics athletes.

Over 2,000 individuals including, chiefs, sheriffs, officers, sheriffs, deputies, agents and other law enforcement personnel from virtually every branch of federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement, represent over 80 different agencies.

Funds are generated through the sale of the popular LETR Campaign T-shirts and through various annual activities such as: Roof Top Sits, Tip-A-Cops, Polar Bear Plunges, car washes, barbecues, 'Cops vs. Kids' basketball and softball games, golf tournaments and many more activities. Individuals and agencies are recognized for their outstanding fundraising efforts and dedication with induction to the “Circle of Honor.”

In 2007, the LETR Campaign reached new heights! Last year’s campaign succeeded and exceeded their goal of raising over a half million dollars for Special Olympics Washington and continues to receive international recognition for their fundraising efforts. In 2005 and 2006, the Washington State’s LETR Campaign was awarded the “Sapphire Award” and the “Emerald Award” in 2007 at the Annual LETR Campaign International Conference.

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) is a proud supporter of the LETR Campaign and is an Official Program of WASPC. Members of WASPC encourage law enforcement to participate and promote this most noteworthy cause. Other major statewide sponsors of Washington State’s LETR Campaign are: Blumenthal Uniforms and Equipment, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Washington State Law Enforcement Association, the Boeing Company, Puget Sound Business Travel Association, Alaska Airlines and The New B97.3. There are many more event sponsors and supporters of the LETR Campaign in Washington State.

Washington State Awards and Incentives

The Special Olympics Washington Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Campaign has an incentive program for all LETR Campaign volunteers. The incentives are a small way to give recognition to those individuals and agencies.

Incentives provide an effective recognition method for individual participants and also increase awareness of the LETR Campaign throughout Washington. Efforts to raise money for SOWA will be rewarded with a strong sense of goodwill, along with prizes and plaque recognition.

It is the responsibility of the agency coordinator to develop a system to track fundraising by individuals within their agencies. The Chief or Sheriff can also assist with determining the tracking system and award procedures within the agency.

Awards and Recognition

Circle of Honor

Outstanding fundraiser's for the Law Enforcement Torch Run Campaign are recognized as members of the “Circle of Honor.” Agency awards are presented at the WASPC Fall Conference in November, and individual awards are presented at the Torch Run Kick-Off Conference in January.

• Individuals that raise $1000 or more net are inducted into the “Circle of Honor” and recognized at the Special Olympics Washington Law Enforcement Torch Run Kick-Off Conference.

• Agencies that raise $5000 or $100 per sworn agency more net qualify for the “Circle of Honor” and are recognized at the Fall WASPC Conference.

• Qualifying agencies will be listed on the back of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Campaign statewide t-shirt the following campaign year by highest to lowest funds raised