JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Members of the Northeast Florida criminal justice community ran side-by-side with Special Olympics athletes Tuesday in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, hosted by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
The run began at 501 E. Bay St. in front of the Police Memorial Building and finished at The Jacksonville Landing.
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Runners brought the "Flame of Hope" to the Jacksonville Landing before passing it on to law enforcement officials from Clay County for their event Wednesday.
Participating agencies included the Atlantic Beach Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; Duval County School Board Police; Federal Bureau of Investigations -- Jacksonville; Florida Air National Guard Military Police; Florida Department of Corrections; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations; Jacksonville Aviation Authority Police Department; Jacksonville Beach Police Department; Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville Police Department; Neptune Beach Police Department; North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA); United States Marshal Service; United States Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville; the University of North Florida Police Department; and U.S. Attorney's Office.
Money is raised for Special Olympics through the purchase of hats and T-shirts sold during March. Funds raised help athletes participate in the Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games.
In 2014, JSO's event raised more than $8,100 in sponsorships from the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 5-30; Greater Jacksonville Youth Athletic Council; Pop Warner Football Conference Association; and through T-shirt and ball cap sales.
For more information about Special Olympics Florida and its sponsors please go to: http://www.specialolympicsflorida.org/index.php.