Behind the Badge
For Special Olympics swimmer Joey Valliere, 31, of Fullerton, the Fullerton Police Department’s 5-mile leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run was a way to get in better shape for the upcoming Summer Games.
For the 30 or so members of the Fullerton Police Department who ran along with Valliere and two of his Special Olympics teammates Friday, the trek was a way to celebrate the athletes themselves.
The Torch Run is a fundraising and awareness campaign involving dozens of law enforcement agencies, with members of each running through their respective cities carrying the Flame of Hope on a 1,500-mile journey through 200 Southern California cities.
Members of the Fullerton PD and Special Olympians run up Harbor Boulevard before Santa Fe Avenue during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics of Southern California.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The run culminates in Long Beach before the start of the Special Olympics on June 10.
“It was really fun,” Valliere said. “I love running. It makes me have a lot of strength so I can swim faster.”
The FPD raised a little over $4,600 for the Special Olympics, mainly through its Tip a Cop fundraiser held in May.
Dave Bowman, who oversaw the Host Town program in Fullerton for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, put in a winning bid at a fundraising event, which enabled his wife, Gail, to participate in the run.
“We have friends and families with special needs and we know the impact of (the Special Olympics) personally,” Gail said. “I’ve seen them since they were babies, so this was easy for us to get involved in.”
Members of the Fullerton PD and Special Olympians run up Harbor Boulevard near Sante Fe Avenue on Friday morning.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
After receiving the Flame of Hope from the Anaheim PD, the FPD team ran north along Harbor Boulevard from the 91 freeway.
They turned east onto Chapman and ran to State College Boulevard, where they passed the torch to the Cal State Fullerton PD.
When asked how it felt to be running with a team of police officers, Valliere replied:
“It makes me happy inside. I love the police officers.”
Anyone wanting to make a donation can go to the Special Olympics Southern California website sosc.org/orangecounty
Members of the Fullerton PD and Special Olympians run across Chapman Avenue during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics of Southern California.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fullerton Police Chief Dan Hughes runs up Harbor Boulevard before Santa Fe Avenue with other members of the Fullerton PD and Special Olympians.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Members of the Fullerton PD, FPD cadets and Special Olympians gather after running through Fullerton for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics of Southern California on June 3.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD torch run pictures:
Anaheim Police Explorers from Post 249, Anaheim PD officers and Special Olympians run up Harbor Boulevard during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics of Southern California on June 3.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim Police Explorers from Post 249, Anaheim PD officers and Special Olympians run up Harbor Boulevard.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim Police Explorers from Post 249, Anaheim PD officers and Special Olympians run up Harbor Boulevard.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim Police Explorers from Post 249 and Anaheim PD officers run past the Anaheim Police Department (behind photographer) on Harbor Boulevard as employees from the APD cheer them on during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics of Southern California on June 3.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim Police Explorers from Post 249, Anaheim PD officers and Special Olympians run up Harbor Boulevard.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Riley McDougall, community services specialist for the APD’s Cops 4 Kids program, left, and Christian Valdez, Fullerton Special Olympian (aquatics) hold up the torch before the start of the Fullerton PD’s run during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics of Southern California on Friday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
