Cops Running Special Olympics Torch through County Wednesday

Wednesday marks a momentous yearly event for local law enforcement and the Special Olympics, when officers from the Santa Cruz CHP and Watsonville PD will run the Special Olympics torch through the southern portion of the county.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will include a 9 a.m. hand-off of the torch from WPD to six CHP officers at the Five Mile House at Corralitos Road and Freedom Boulevard, according to CHP Officer Sarah Jackson.

From there, Jackson said they will run the torch seven miles to Rio Del Mar Beach in Aptos. 

"Last year, we had 6 officers (including myself) run the entire 7 miles in formation, singing cadence," Jackson said in an email to Patch. "It was a lot of fun and we plan to do the same this year."

Also running with Jackson will be CHP Officer Nick Petrinovich, whose brother has competed in the Special Olympics, and whose father, according to Jackson, "was awarded posthumously at the state wide games for his lifetime efforts in coaching special olympics athletes." Petrinovich has run the torch every year since joining the Santa Cruz CHP.

The torch will then make its way through Capitola, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley before leaving the county. 

Will you check out the torch run? Do you have any family or friends who participate in the Special Olympics? Tell us in the comments!

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