Behind the Badge
Cops from four O.C. agencies joined law enforcement departments throughout the county to take to the streets Friday and engage in a foot race — not to chase down bad guys, but to support the Special Olympics.
Joined by cadets and other law enforcement personnel, officers from Garden Grove, Anaheim, Fullerton and La Habra took turns carrying the Flame of Hope as it made its way through Orange County for the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics Summer Games.
The Southern California Summer Games are being held June 13-14 in Long Beach and the Special Olympic World Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles July 25-Aug. 2.
Behind the Behind OC photographer Steven Georges worked up a sweat capturing the law enforcement torch run:
Kari Flood of the Garden Grove PD runs with the GGPD team down Chapman Avenue.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Garden Grove PD team runs with the Flame of Hope down Chapman Avenue. Holding the torch is Officer Nick Lazenby.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Officer Nick Lazenby leads members of the Garden Grove PD team.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Anaheim PD team prepares to receive the torch from the GGPD team during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics on Friday. Holding the torch is Sgt. Mike Haggerty.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Teams from the Anaheim PD and Garden Grove PD gather as Garden Grove hands the torch to Anaheim during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics. APD Sgt. Mike Haggerty is holding the torch. Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Members of the Anaheim PD team run with the torch up Harbor Boulevard.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Officer Leslie Vargas, right, carries the Special Olympics torch past Disneyland as she and other members of the Anaheim PD team take the torch up Harbor Boulevard. Deputy Chief Julian Harvey is running next to Vargas.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Anaheim PD team runs past Anaheim PD headquarters. Here, Officer Matt Ellis carries the torch.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Members of the Fullerton PD team gather for a photo as they wait for the Anaheim team to bring the torch to them during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Fullerton PD team runs with the Flame of Hope up Harbor Boulevard. Carrying the torch is Christian Valdez, a gold medalist Special Olympian in the breaststroke.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Fullerton PD team runs with the torch. In this section of the run, Det. Cynthia Hines holds the torch.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Members of the Fullerton PD team continue with Corp. Bryan Bybee holding the Flame of Hope.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Fullerton PD team, including Capt. John Siko (front, in black) runs the torch up Harbor Boulevard. Here Siko hands the torch off to Officer Mike Greene.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Siko makes the handoff to Greene. Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Fullerton PD team runs down Chapman Avenue with Cadet Luis Ramirez holding the Flame of Hope.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The La Habra PD team runs with the torch up Euclid Street to the La Habra Police Department during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Members of the La Habra PD team.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
One of the parade cars carrying Special Olympics Athletes John Blalock and Christian Valdez enters the La Habra Police Department at the conclusion of Friday’s Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The La Habra PD team gathers in front of La Habra PD headquarters.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
