Officers hit the ground running for a cause

CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP — Commuters around the U.P. may have noticed some law enforcement officers doing something a little different out on the road Tuesday morning.

Officers from across Michigan participated in the Central Route run of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Michigan. The over 700 mile run is undertaken by teams from the Michigan State Police, the Fraternal Order of Police out of Sterling Heights, and the Michigan Department of Corrections.

It’s just one of several events police and corrections officers participate in to support the over 20,000 Special Olympics athletes in the state.

“It’s been going on for over thirty years. It’s the longest standing Torch Run event in Michigan,” said Kevin Sweeney, Commander of the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post. “We start in Copper Harbor and run down to Detroit. For me, I think it’s my eleventh time here. [The] first one was back in the mid-90’s. [It] really is a great cause, and I love being out here to support the Special Olympics.”

Officials say the Law Enforcement Torch Run raised over a million dollars last year. Community running events are being held throughout the week as well. Click here to find out more about the Torch Run.