Gilroy – Officers from the California Highway Patrol handed off the Special Olympic torch to Gilroy Police Department officials Monday morning, joining law enforcement agencies nationwide in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a nationwide event. A series of intra-state relays make about $20 million for training athletes and holding the games. The Special Olympics provides year-round training and competition for individuals with mental retardation. There are 14,000 individuals in Northern California who participate in Special Olympics competitions.
Eight officers and personnel from GPD received the torch at Platinum Theaters on Monterey Road. The group, including three Northern California Special Olympics athletes, then ran the torch eight miles to San Martin Avenue where they handed it off to Morgan Hill Police Department representatives.
