Special Olympics torch passes through San Bernardino

On Tuesday, June 4the Special Olympics Torch Run came through the City of San Bernardino.  The torch was passed from the California Highway Patrol to the San Bernardino Police Department (SBPD) on Hospitality Lane, adjacent to the Claim Jumper restaurant, when the run continued to the SBPD station on 7^th and D Streets.

Members from the SBPD joined Special Olympics athlete Brett Laza at the starting point.  Leading the pack from Claim Jumper was San Bernardino Assistant Police Chief Eric McBride, Brett Laza, and SBPD Sergeant John Echevarria who was holding the torch for the beginning portion of the run.  The Law Enforcement Torch Run Special Olympics flag was carried throughout the duration of the run.  During the event, the torch and flag were rotated among runners.  A motorcycle escort and a small motorcade escorted runners through the city. 

Taking a 4-mile scenic tour through the southern portion of the city, runners went west on Hospitality Lane to E Street, north to 2^nd Street, east to D Street, north past City Hall to the Police Department at the corner of 7^th and D Streets.  Many motorists showed their support by honking car horns and waving at runners. 

The Southern California leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run actually started on May 28^th, in the City of Chula Vista.  Law Enforcement agencies throughout Southern California will take the torch through their area, then pass the torch to another agency.  The agencies that ran on Tuesday were Riverside Police Department, Riverside Division of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), University of California Riverside Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Moreno Valley Police Department, Val-Verde Unified School Police, March Air Force Reserve Base, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Redlands Police Department, San Bernardino Division of the CHP, San Bernardino Police Department, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and the Colton Police Department. 

Abbey Leffler, Regional Director for the Special Olympics Southern California I.E. Region who coordinated the event said there are over 4,000 athletes who train and compete in the Inland Empire.  The Summer Games Championships were held June 8^th and 9^th at Cal State Long Beach.  Sergeant John Echevarria from the SBPD has been coordinating events with the Special Olympics.  On April 11, 2019, the SBPD and the Special Olympics Southern California I.E. Region partnered to host a Tip-A-Cop event at the San Bernardino Claim Jumper restaurant.  About 40 volunteers from the San Bernardino Police Department teamed up with Claim Jumper servers to promote and raise funds for the Special Olympics.  Also helping with the Tip-A-Cop were several Special Olympics athletes, who teamed up with police officers.  The SBPD volunteers consisted of police officers, police reserve officers, community service officers, citizens patrol members, and several Police Explorer Post members.  Over $3,000 was raised during the Tip-A-Cop event, which will be used to fund activities for the Special Olympics athletes.