TEAM BIOGRAPHIES 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM John Newnan MARYLAND, USA
John Newnan has been involved in the Torch Run since the inaugural Torch Run in Maryland in 1986. He has served as his agency coordinator, county coordinator, and was the MD LETR Director from 1999-2014. John is a Final Leg veteran serving as the Team Captain and Coordinator for the 2013 Korea Final Leg, 2014 USA Games Final Leg and now the 2015 LA Final Leg. John has served on the International Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Council since 2005 as the Region II Coordinator and is currently the Final Leg Committee Chair. TEAM CAPTAIN
In 2005, John was honored to be inducted into the Richard LaMunyon International LETR Hall of Fame. He is especially proud that his Torch Run efforts involve his entire family, his wife Kathy, son Ryan, daughter Jessica, and daughter-in-law, Ashley. In 2008, John’s son Ryan, helped introduce the Torch Run and Polar Plunging in the Middle East while serving a tour of duty in Mosul, Iraq as an Infantry LT/Platoon leader in the U.S. Army. While in Mosul, Iraq, Ryan put together a Polar Plunge® (with 700 bags of ice!) in a combat zone raising over $6000 to benefit Special Olympics back home. John’s daughter Jessica, is a Special Education teacher currently teaching at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi and is an avid supporter of Special Olympics and his daughter-in-law, Ashley, worked for Special Olympics Maryland as their volunteer coordinator.
Howard County Police Department 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Paul Manuel ALBERTA, CANADA
Paul Manuel is a police officer with the Calgary Police Service joining in 1977. His career over 37 years has been primarily in the patrol area and he is currently a Superintendent working in the Office of the Chief. He started with the LETR in 1988 as a runner in the local Torch Run and from there started becoming involved in various fund raising events. Over the years, Paul’s involvement grew to organizing events and runs and then to becoming the Director of the Alberta Province Torch Run Program.
In 2007 Paul was elected as the Region XI (Canada) Coordinator on the
TEAM 1 International Executive Council and has served in that position since that
time. He is a veteran of 6 previous World Games Final Leg Teams, being a TEAM LEADER Run Team Leader for the past five. Paul is also the Head Coach for the Special Olympics Calgary Power Lifting Program, a role he thoroughly enjoys. Paul is married to Theresa, has three sons and three grandsons.
Calgary Police Service
Graziano Carrozzo LA SPEZIA, ITALY
Graziano is 50 years of age and lives in La Spezia, Italy with his mother and two sisters (Mara and Marisa). All three have an intellectual disability and all participate as Special Olympics athletes.
The sporting activities provided by Special Olympics helps Graziano to have a good quality of life and he relishes the opportunity to take part in local regional and national events. His sporting interests are focussed on Athletics and 5-A-Side Football. TEAM 1 Graziano has represented Italy in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai in 2007 and Athens in 2011 in the discipline of Athletics. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 1 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Bob Cormier NEW HAMPSHIRE, USA
Bob Cormier is presently the Chief of Police for the Tilton Police Department in New Hampshire. He attended Boston State College, Northeastern University and graduated the Metropolitan Police Academy in 1982. He also worked for the Woburn Police Department, Plymouth Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department. Bob is also a graduate of the 245th Session of the FBI National Academy.
Bob also serves as a President of the New Hampshire Chiefs of Police and has been the Law Enforcement Torch Run Director since 2008. TEAM 1
Each year Bob attends all Special Olympic Games, fundraisers, annual LETR TORCH RUNNER Conferences and drove athletes to the 2014 National Games in Princeton NJ. He has been involved with Special Olympics for over 25 years.
Tilton Police Department
Kristine Krishtal MASSACHUSETTS, USA
Kristine has been a Police Officer with North Attleboro PD since 2003. She became “hooked” by LETR in 2012 when her daughter Kailyn, a Special Olympics Young Athlete, won her first gold medal at a Summer Games. Kristine said that the “pure joy” she saw on her daughters’ face that day made her want to do more to help Special Olympics. She attended her first International LETR Convention that same year and was appointed as the Coordinator for her county in 2013.
Tragically in April 2014, Kristine’s daughter Kailyn passed away. Kristine says TEAM 1 life had been difficult at without Kailyn, but she knows that she will be by
her side as she proudly takes part in the Final Leg. As she says, “running is TORCH RUNNER not my favorite, but for my daughter and LETR I would do pretty much anything”.
North Attleboro Police Department Team 1 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Stefano Lucarelli VENEZIA, ITALY
Stefano is 38 years old, married with a wife (Manola) and son (Gianmaria) who is almost 3 years old. He is a Superintendent in the Italian State Police attached to their headquarters in Venice.
He enjoys sailing, running, gardening, cooking and everything about food and wine.
Stefano is a marathon runner with the 29ers Venice Marathon being his
TEAM 1 most recent race.
He has only recently become involved with the Torch Run and is looking TORCH RUNNER forward to the experience.
Ministero dell'Interno - Polizia di Stato
Rick Lucy BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Rick Lucy has been with the Abbotsford Police Department for 32+ years, and is presently a Deputy Chief. He has been married for 26+ years to Diane, and they have 3 awesome adult children, Braden, Melissa, and Trevor. In 1990, Rick was blessed to have been selected as one of the core group of runnners that introduced the LETR to his province by carrying the torch from Calgary, Alberta to Vancouver, BC for the opening of the National Summer Games. Rick has had a wide variety of opportunities with the LETR and SO since that time, and is the current Director of the BCLETR, as well as a Director on the Board of SOBC. He has volunteered at several Winter and
TEAM 1 Summer Games, including as Organizing Committee Chair, Coach, and Mission Staff at Provincial, National, and World Games. Rick considers his experiences with the LETR and SO to have been life-changing and has an TORCH RUNNER abundance of memorable moments from more than 24 years of involvement.
Abbotsford Police Department Team 1 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Derek McCorkhill OREGON, USA
Derek McCorkhill is a 26 year veteran with the Oregon Department of Corrections. He is currently working as a Captain at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. His wife of 34 years, Marsha ,is also a Captain at Coffee Creek. Both are active with LETR and Oregon Special Olympics. Their dedication to Special Olympics began when their son Tyler who is 26, became involved as an athlete. Derek has two other children (Chris and Brooke) and one grandson who is almost 2 years old. . Derek's interests outside of work and Special Olympics involve fishing and camping. He is looking forward to when his grandson becomes his 1st mate on the fishing boat. TEAM 1 He expressed that at 56 years old, was not driven enough to get in "Torch
Run shape" for himself, but when inspired by the obstacles the athletes TORCH RUNNER themselves have and continue to overcome, wanted to do it for them. He is grateful to be have been given the opportunity to represent Oregon Law Enforcement at the 2015 World Games.
Oregon Department of Corrections
Ana Ortiz NEW MEXICO, USA
Ana Ortiz has been a Patrol Officer for the Santa Ana Police Department for the last 6 years. Ana was honored to be recognised as Officer of the Year in 2013. A single mother of two, she enjoys spending time with her children especially spending time with her eldest daughter during her softball games and tournaments. She also an avid runner and participates in CrossFit and dance fitness during her spare time.
Ana has been involved in the Torch Run since 2010 after she was handed the responsibility to represent her Police Department. She was named Regional Coordinator in 2014 and has enjoyed volunteering and TEAM 1 coordinating events in her local area for the Special Olympics through
programs such as Tip-A-Cop, Adopt-A-Cop, and bowling tournaments. She TORCH RUNNER looks forward to continuing to not only serve her community but continue to seek ways to involve her fellow officers and the community to become involved with the Special Olympics
Santa Ana Police Department Team 1 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Sarn Paroli MANAWATU, NEW ZEALAND
Sarn Paroli has been involved with Torch Run for two years and is a founding trustee of the recently formed LETR, New Zealand. Sarn has spent most of his policing career as a Detective and is now a Senior Sergeant, currently in charge of policing in a large provincial area in the lower North Island of New Zealand. Sarn is married to Clare and they have three children, Joshua, Isabel and Elena who all enjoy outdoor activities together.
In the summer of 2012-2013, Sarn and a family member walked the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail, a distance of 3000 kilometres. The TEAM 1 journey took four months and along the way they raised awareness and
funds for Special Olympics and LETR New Zealand. His experiences with TORCH RUNNER athletes during the journey cemented that LETR is a great movement to be part of.
New Zealand Police
Jen Riley DELAWARE, USA
Jennifer Riley has been involved with Torch Run for six years. She ran her first Torch Run after being assigned to a task force that pairs probation officers with police officers. She has run in every Torch Run since and became increasingly involved with Special Olympics. She's an agency rep and volunteers at several events throughout the year.
Jennifer participated in Over the Edge for three years and along with two other volunteers still hosts an annual event raising money for OTE. She TEAM 1 attended her first regional conference in Pittsburg and listened to the father
of an athlete describe his daughter's strength and courage. She's been TORCH RUNNER involved with Torch Run ever since.
Delaware Probation and Parole Team 1 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Bill Proll SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Bill Proll has worked for the San Luis Obispo Police Department since 1984. He is a Lieutenant and is currently a night-time watch commander. Bill also teaches Kinesiology classes at Cal Poly State University and has competed in many racquetball events for the Police and Fire Games in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Canada.
Bill is a board member for the Cal Poly State University Athletic Department and is very happy that Cal Poly won the Big West Division in both baseball and basketball this year. TEAM 2
Bill has been involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for about 20 years. TEAM LEADER He has run the torch every year, organized 15 annual Tip a Cop Dinners, and is currently the county director for the Torch Run. The Tip a Cop Dinners that Bill organized this year raised over $100,000.
San Luis Obispo Police Department
William Corsi FLORIDA, USA
William has been an extremely active member of Special Olympics Florida for several years. As an athlete, he has participated in various sports and has excelled. Not only does William excel as an athlete, but also as a member of the local Athlete Leadership Program, in which he was unanimously elected to be the Athlete Leader for the Special Olympics Hillsborough County Athlete Leadership Program. William has given numerous speeches, with audiences ranging in size from 15 to 500. These speeches have been able to bring awareness and raise money for the Special Olympics organization. William has also been very active in county and state Torch Run events. He has given speeches at county, state, and international Torch Run events. He TEAM 2 is a Global Messenger and the chairperson for the Special Olympics Hillsborough County Athlete Input Council.
As an amazing athlete and person, William is an extremely honorable,
dependable, skilled, outgoing, and knowledgeable individual. ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 2 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Michelle Anaya VIRGINIA, USA
Michelle Anaya is a Sergeant in the Public Affairs unit with the Virginia State Police working in the Hampton Roads Region. Michelle became involved with the Torch Run in 2006 and has held many roles within the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Michelle served as the liaison to the State Chair, serves as the Region liaison, and is an active LETR Executive Council member. Michelle is a single mother of two wonderful children, Tyler and Isabel, who are also actively involved in many Special Olympics events and volunteer yearly with the Virginia Summer Games. Michelle is always looking for new ways to enhance Torch Run or better engage the public in the LETR movement. Michelle received the Unsung Hero award in 2013 and TEAM 2 was honored and humbled when she was recognized in 2014 and entered
into the Torch Run Hall of fame for all her efforts, and involvement in Special TORCH RUNNER Olympics. Michelle is passionate about Special Olympics and continuously seeks ways to involve the public in becoming involved with athletes and events.
Virginia State Police
Joe Burrows ALBERTA, CANADA
Joseph Burrows has been a Correctional Peace Officer for the past 8 years at the Edmonton Remand Centre. Before that he served for 16 years in the Canadian Armed Forces.
He has been helping out in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the past 4 years. He tries to help out where he can and encourages fellow officers to come out and help out. Belonging to the Edmonton Committee of LETR, he tries to do his part in to raise funds to help Special Olympics to achieve their
TEAM 2 goals. He enjoys participating in the yearly Polar Plunge, in January.
In summer he enjoys working with athletes and fellow Law Enforcement TORCH RUNNER officers to raise funds at the Free the Fuzz event.
Alberta Correctional Services Team 2 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Jack Chan CHINESE TAIPEI
Chan, Cheng-Chieh (Jack) comes from Chinese Taipei. He is 35 years old and has been a police officer for 13 years. He used to be a leader of a local police station in ILAN County Police Bureau for almost 2 years. Jack currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Public Relations Division of the National Police Agency (NPA), Taiwan. Jack is married with 2 children. He has a wide range of hobbies, such as jogging, marathon running and traveling. He is outgoing, optimistic, friendly and always loves to help others.
Although Jack Chan has never been deeply involved with Torch Run, he TEAM 2 actively promotes Torch Run activities and fundraising campaigns in Taiwan
when working at the NPA. From those experiences, he decided to raise TORCH RUNNER public awareness of the importance of helping underprivileged people and tries to do whatever he can to support them.
National Police Agency
Jeremie Elliott NEVADA, USA
Jeremie Elliott has been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch run for over 5 years and became involved after participating in award aeremonies and seeing his cousin with intellectual disabilities compete in winter sports in Truckee California. Jeremie has been married for 17 years and has two daughters aged 12 & 11 and is involved in community events with them. Jeremie was given the responsibility of being the Public Information Officer for Nevada Highway Patrol, and as a result co-ordinated LETR events for NHP and Parole and Probation. Jeremie has assisted in the planning of the Southwest Police Motorcycle Training Competition that rotates around Southern Nevada and benefits Special Olympics Nevada, raising over TEAM 2 $50,000 in 2014 for Special Olympics Nevada. Jeremie became hooked on
Special Olympics Nevada when he got to attend Regional Sports TORCH RUNNER Competition in Southern Nevada and had the opportunity of awarding medals, and actually seeing Special Olympics athletes compete, and see the victory in their expressions when they completed the event.
Nevada Highway Patrol Team 2 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Trisha Donorila HAWAII, USA
Trisha Doronila has been involved with the Torch Run for ten years participating for the first time as a Honolulu Police Department Recruit. Patricia has worked various assignments during her HPD career including the Receiving Division ("jail"), CrimeStoppers, Criminal Analysis Unit, and Criminal Investigation Division. She is currently assigned to First Watch as a Patrol Officer on the Windward Side of Oahu.
Patricia and her husband, Bret, who is also a police officer, enjoy being Coaches and Unified Partners and volunteering for their SO fundraising
TEAM 2 programs. They strongly felt that their involvement with Special Olympics should become a family activity, and now their beautiful 3-year-old daughter, Lillian, can be found standing next to them at most of their events. TORCH RUNNER Patricia was honored to be named one of Honolulu's "Unsung Heroes" for her involvement with Special Olympics.
Honolulu Police Department
Kristi Powell KANSAS, USA
Kristi Powell has been on the Topeka Police Department for over 16 years and has been involved in Special Olympics as a coach and/or Torch Runner for 14 of those years.
Kristi has worked as an officer in the patrol division, teaching D.A.R.E., and being a S.R.O. and teaching G.R.E.A.T. in the middle schools before promoting to detectives in 2006. She has taken an active role in the LETR by being on the planning committee and eventually chairing the Polar Plunge
TEAM 2 event.
She has been the department representative for over 5 years with LETR and TORCH RUNNER was elected to the Kansas LETR Executive Council approximately 2 years ago.
Topeka Police Department Team 2 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Damian Rodriguez GIBRALTAR
Damian Rodriguez is 37 years old and was born in Gibraltar. During his upbringing he always enjoyed sports, being actively involved in football (soccer) and basketball. After finishing his higher education in the United Kingdom he joined Her Majesties Prison Service in Gibraltar.
Very early in his service, he was introduced to the Law Enforcement Torch Run by a fellow officer. Through his commitment in participating in annual fund raising events he was offered the post of Liaison Officer for his department; a duty which he has carried out with pride for the past 5 years. TEAM 2 In 2013 he was married and he and his wife are expecting their first child. He is looking forward to participating in the 2015 Final Leg and expanding TORCH RUNNER his understanding of the Law Enforcement Torch Run whilst raising awareness of what it represents.
HM Prison Service, Gibraltar
Bob Scarpelli MAINE, USA
Bob Scarpelli is a young 61 year old Police Officer who works for the South Portland Maine Police Department.
For at least half of Bob's 37 years with the department he has been involved with Special Olympics one way or another. Bob is married with two grown children and one grandson.
Bob is the coordinator for South Portland's Torch Run and assists on many other Special Olympic events. Bob also was a volunteer and chapereone for
TEAM 2 South Portland Special Olympians at the summer games at the University of Maine. This was very rewarding for Bob, who still talks about his experiences. TORCH RUNNER
Bob recently got hooked on running and has particiapted in many 5k, 10k and half marathons.
South Portland Police Department Team 2 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Antonio Williams HAWAII, USA
Antonio Williams has been in law enforcement for 28 years, first as a military police officer (MP) with the U.S. Army and, now, as the Chief of Police for U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii. He became an MP because he knew he wanted to help people. It is that same sense of service that drives him to participate in Special Olympics.
Antonio has been involved with Special Olympics for over 27 years and currently holds a 'Law Enforcement At Large' position on the LETR
TEAM 3 International Executive Council. TEAM LEADER He has previously partticipated in the 2009 (Idaho), 2011 (Greece) and 2013 (Korea) Final Legs.
US Army Garrison, Hawaii
Brett Laza SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Brett Laza is 23 years old and lives with his parents and brother in Phelan, California. He has been actively involved with Western San Bernadino Special Olympics for the past 10 years and partticipates in Athletics, Floor Hockey, Tennis and Volleyball. To keep up with his active life in Special Olympics, Brett enjoys mud run, 5k’s, fishing, bike and quad riding, hiking, archery with his family.
Special Olympics has given Brett the confidence to meet people as well as partake in a variety of activities. Special Olympics has helped Brett to gain
TEAM 3 more confidence not only with public speaking but also becoming more involved with his community, whether it is going to the gym, bible study, or working for VIP. Brett Joseph Laza is truly a role model for Special Olympic athletes as well as those with all abilities. He has shown through his hard work and perseverance what a true individual can accomplish. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 3 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Cristian Allen SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Cristian Allen has been involved with the Torch Run for approximately two and a half years and became involved shortly after joining the Pasadena Police Department. Cristian is in his 5th year as an officer and has spent time in the Patrol Division, the Community Services Section, and is currently assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Section as a police motor.
Cristian is not married, but resides in the city of Montclair with his girlfriend Sasha and stepdaughter Delilah. Cristian has been a part of several SOSC events including coordinating and participating in two Torch Runs, two Tip-A- TEAM 3 Cop events and one Battle of the Badges Basketball Challenge game. TORCH RUNNER Cristian enjoys contributing to the Special Olympics cause and is excited to participate in his first Final Leg event.
Pasadena Police Department
Nikos Angelakis GREECE
Nikos Angelakis is a Greek Police Sergeant (Subdivision of Police Physical Education - Athens). He is also Chief of the Hellenic Police Football Team. He speaks Greek and English.
He has been a volunteer with Special Olympics and Torch Runner since 2011 when he participated in the Final Leg in Greece. He recently took part in the Final Leg for the SO Europe Summer Games in Antwerp.
He has many awards as a member and Chief of the Hellenic Police Football Team since 2002. He lives in Trikala, Greece and is engaged. His favorite TEAM 3 torch run memory comes from Alexandroupolis. The journey started from the
city of Ferres where all torch runners had to take the boat carrying the flame TORCH RUNNER of hope. They arrived in Alexandroupolsi where all the residents welcomed the Final Leg team with love and excitement, the atmosphere was festive and jolly.
Hellenic Police Team 3 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Frank Aresta NEW JERSEY, USA
Frank Aresta became involved in the Torch Run soon after he joined the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department in 2001. Frank spent the first 8 years of his career assigned to the PATH Train Command. In 2008, Frank graduated from the Port Authority Police K9 Academy where he was assigned to the Canine Narcotic Detection Unit. Frank and his Canine Partner "CEDO" are currently Task Force Officers' assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration's New York Division. Frank is married to his wife Trish, a registered nurse at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Together, they
TEAM 3 have a 6 year old son named Ryan. Frank is the coordinator of New Jersey's LETR Run 7 which raises approximately $100,000 per year. Frank has been involved with Special Olympics in some capacity since high school until TORCH RUNNER joining the Law Enforcement Torch Run just after 9/11.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department
Julie Bowman FLORIDA, USA
Julie Bowman's introduction to the Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run was during her first year with the Florida Department of Corrections in 1997 when she ran her first LETR. She ran this leg from the Alabama line with many, but the one that pushed her along the way, was her Dad who was also a Correctional Officer.
Many LETR runs later, in 2006, she was asked to join the team as the Region 1 LETR Coordinator for four counties in the panhandle of Florida. The runs in the panhandle had, over the years, lagged in participation and her work was
TEAM 3 cut out for her to get them all back on board. After many hours on the phone, visits, and uncountable emails later contacts flourished and now each county is back to having successful runs and fund raising events each year. Her TORCH RUNNER biggest fans are her Mother and Dad who have supported her in every crazy adventure LETR has brought along.
Florida Department of Corrections Team 3 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Mike Fernandez WYOMING, USA
Mike Fernandez is 30 years old, married with two children. He commenced his law enforcement career with Laramie County Sheriff's Department in 2007 and joined the Cheyenne Police Department in 2012. He has been involved in the Law Enforcement Torch run since 2007, and has enjoyed every minute.
Besides being involved with the Torch Run, Mike also volunteers during fundraising events to raise money for the Special Olympics athletes. He too was an athlete growing up and feels every person regardless of strengths or TEAM 3 weaknesses should be allowed to have fun doing what they love. For him,
the slogan "Guardians of the Flame" means to protect the dreams of TORCH RUNNER thousands of athletes, who continue to compete regardless of what life throws at them. He is the protector, and will not let them down.
Cheyenne Police Department
Nancy Howell NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR, CANADA
Nancy Howell has been involved with the Torch Run for the past three years, and became involved after having joined the local Special Olympics club as a coach and swim instructor.
Nancy was recently transferred from Federal Policing Operations back into Traffic Services as a Collision Reconstructionist. Nancy is married, and her husband, Doug, is a Crown Prosecutor for the Department of Justice and Public Safety for the government of Newfoundland and Labrador. They have one daughter, Eva, who enjoys swimming and gymnastics. TEAM 3 Nancy took over the organizing of the local LETR in Gander in 2013, and
helped the Gander Wings club raise a record amount of funds since then. TORCH RUNNER Nancy has attended Special Olympics Games at both the Provincial and National level in the role of coach and mission staff. She looks forward to her involvement in Special Olympics and LETR for many years to come!
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Team 3 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Armando Talamantez TEXAS, USA
In August 1994, Armando Talamantez graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. In 1995, he served as a 9-1-1 Planning Assistant with the Capitol Area Planning Council of Government. In 1996, Armando began his law enforcement career as a Border Patrol Agent upon graduating from the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Glynco, Georgia. In 1999, Armando became a DEA Special Agent upon graduating from the Drug Enforcement Administration's Basic Agent Training in Quantico, Virginia.
TEAM 3 DEA Special Agent Talamantez has served in the McAllen and San Antonio offices over the last 15 years. Aside from investigative duties, he serves as the Physical Task Test Administrator, Trauma Team Member, Field Training TORCH RUNNER Agent, and Demand Reduction Coordinator. As a liaison to Special Olympics, he is the South Region Coordinator for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Drug Enforcement Agency
Chantal van Drunen NETHERLANDS
Chantal van Drunen is 24 years of age, growing up in a small town in the south of Holland. She is planning her wedding to Jamie Hoos that will take place a few short weeks before the Final Leg – this will be a honeymoon to remember. Chantal joined the Dutch National Police in 2009 and works in the town of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Oost-Brabant region of Holland.
In her spare time, she enjoys tasting different kinds of special beers and wine, running (she took part in the Rotterdam Marathon in 2014), baking cakes and extraordinary pies and socializing with friends. TEAM 3 She has been a volunteer badminton coach with Special Olympics for a few
years and more recently become involved with the Torch Run. From the TORCH RUNNER moment she found about Torch Run she wanted to be part of the organization. The main key for her participation in the Torch Run is to put smiles on all those special faces.
Nationale Politie Oost Brabant Team 3 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Barb Stapleton NEVADA, USA
Barbara Stapleton is a Nevada State Trooper for the Department of Public Safety/Highway Patrol Division. She has been involved with Special Olympics for 8 years. She first became involved when she worked a Tip a Cop event at Claim Jumpers.
That first event drew her in, then she participated in her first awards ceremony & each year became more and more involved. She has plunged in Lake Tahoe in full uniform the past few years. She is the highway patrol's representative for Special Olympics and works with other agencies in
TEAM 4 Northern NV/CA to bring awareness & help raise $$$. She was recently
elected to the Executive Committee. She has a god daughter who has special TEAM LEADER needs as well as many friends with children with special needs. She bowled with the Reno Unified bowling team until her shift changed. She likes to hike, bowl, golf, run, etc...
Nevada Highway Patrol
Jazmine Slama UTAH, USA
Jazmine Slama is 24 years of age and lives with her parents in Hurricane, Utah. She is relatively new to Special Olympics, but she has already experienced success with two gold medals, one silver and a fourth place in Track and Field in the 2014 USA Summer Games.
Jazmine is a very capable distance runner who trains and works hard. Her family are extremely supportive of her. She competes regularaly in Area and State level events in Utah, often in Mixed Gender Divisions as there are no females in the program suited to compete against her. She is a great
TEAM 4 individual competitor, but ultimately she is an even better teammate.
Jazmine is looking forward to taking part in the 2015 Final Leg. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 4 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Joe Alton MARYLAND, USA
Joe Alton is a 24 year veteran of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police. He currently serves as the Operations Commander within the Special Operations Division.
Joe has been married for 18 years to his wife Christina and they have one child, their daughter Olivia. Joe is a proud graduate of the 246th Session of the F.B.I. National Academy. He currently serves as his agencies liaison with the Special Olympics Maryland and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. TEAM 4 In this position he has assumed the role of coordinating participation in
various events, as well as the direct planning of the annual Fort McHenry TORCH RUNNER Tunnel Run 5k. This event alone in 2014 raised over $41,000 for Special Olympics Maryland.
Maryland Transportation Authority Police
Steve Hernandez ARKANSAS, USA
Steve Hernandez has been involved with the Torch Run for the last ten years. He first got involved after starting with the Searcy Police Department, although never hearing about the LETR during the first few years of his law enforcement career.
Knowing that there were areas around the state that were not involved with LETR, he has made it a goal to spread the word. Steve has taken over the LETR program for his department over the last three years. His focus has been getting more officers involved hoping to create a larger foundation of TEAM 4 officers to increase what the department raises each year. TORCH RUNNER Since running the torch into the stadium for the first time, Steve has been hooked and has become one of the leaders for the state’s LETR program.
Searcy Police Department Team 4 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Petr Matlach CZECH REPUBLIC
Petr has been working for 13 years as a Police investigator at Criminal Police and 6 years at Europol National Unit in Prague. He is currently retired and works as a Safety Officer.
Petr is single and has a 14 year old daughter. In his off time he enjoys cycling, running and charity work.
He became involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics while running the Flame of Hope in Prague in 2008. He was immediately hooked. Since that time he every year helps to organize TEAM 4 National Winter Games for Special Olympics. He especially enjoys handing
out awards to the athletes during awards ceremonies. He took part in several TORCH RUNNER national and international Torch Runs. Petr believes that it makes sense to help all people in need of help. He is very proud of to be in Final Leg Torch Run Team for Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2015.
Europol National Unit, Czech Police
Bruce Merriam VERMONT, USA
Bruce Merriam is a Sergeant with the Stowe Police Department in Stowe, Vermont. He is a 30 year veteran, joining the force after serving in the United States Marine Corp. He began his career in patrol and spent 15 years as a detective, before being promoted to Patrol Sergeant. Additionally, he serves as the department training coordinator. He has participated in the LETR for more than 20 years and served as county coordinator since 2012. Under his leadership, LETR participation and fundraising has grown exponentially. The county leg now includes athletes and representative from all local police departments. TEAM 4 Bruce has worked with local news agencies to increase awareness of the LETR and the importance of the Special Olympics. In September 2014, Bruce TORCH RUNNER represented Vermont at the International Law Enforcement Torch Run Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Stowe Police Department Team 4 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Jeannie Smith QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Jean Smith works for Queensland Police Service as an Administration Officer in the Criminal Investigation Branch. She is a mother of 2 teenage boys and 3 older step children. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, exercising and charity event management. She was introduced to LETR in 2012, helping organise a Torch Run in Bundaberg, a coastal town in Queensland famous for sugar cane and rum.
In 2013 she ran the Final Leg Torch Run for SO Asia Pacific Games held in Newcastle, through the Hunter Region of New South Wales. TEAM 4
She met SO Athletes and Police Officers who inspired her to embrace the TORCH RUNNER LETR ethos of transforming communities by inspiring people to open their minds and to accept and include people with intellectual disabilities.
Queensland Police Service
Shirrell Veitenheimer WASHINGTON, USA
Shirrell Veitenheimer is a Police Officer with the Kennewick Police Department and has been for nine years. She is married to her wife, Lesley, who works in Juvenile Probation and they have two dogs.
Shirrell became involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run in 2012 when she joined the Washington State relay team that runs the Flame of Hope 384 miles from one end of the State to the other, ending in Lakewood, WA where the Opening Ceremonies for the Special Olympics Washington Summer Games are held. In 2014 she took over coordination of the LETR
TEAM 4 Washington relay and has created a promotional video to encourage participation in her area. TORCH RUNNER
She has recently signed up to be a Unified Partner and looks forward to participating in that program soon.
Kennewick Police Department Team 4 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Ho-yin Tse HONG KONG
TSE Ho-yin has been involved with the Torch Run for the past ten years. He joined the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department in the early 80s. He likes swimming and hiking.
He was promoted to Senior Superintendent last year and is currently posted to the Quality Assurance Division. Ho-yin is married and the main role for his wife is to take care of their three daughters. The eldest one is now studying Year 2 in University of London. The two younger children are twins, who are both studying Upper Sixth in England. TEAM 4
The most joyful experience for Ho-yin with the Torch Run was to see how the TORCH RUNNER funds raised could assist those in need as well the kindest donation from the colleagues and friends.
Up in the morning to the Torch Run sun, We’re going to run all day un l the running is done, The Flame of Hope™ we carry in hand, We’re going to run this flame across the land, Together we run side by side,
Led by an athlete who gives us pride,
Across this land we’re going to carry this flame, All the way to LA to the World Games.
Team 4 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Jimmy Johnson ALASKA, USA
James “Jimmy” Johnson has been involved with the Torch Run for the past fourteen years, participating in programs in North Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Alaska as a Deputy US Marshal. In 2009, Jimmy was asked to sit on the planning board for the Anchorage Torch Run Planning Committee and he has been there ever since. Jimmy was promoted from K9 handler to Senior Inspector with the US Marshals Judicial Security Division in 2014.
Also in 2014, Jimmy was selected as a runner for the USA Games Final Leg in New Jersey which proved to be a truly life changing event for him. Aside TEAM 5 from work, LETR, hunting and fishing, Jimmy and his wife Rashae were blessed with a baby boy in late November 2014, the 6th edition to the TEAM LEADER family. All of Jimmy’s kids are anxious to participate in their first Polar Plunge with their dad as soon as they are old enough!
US Marshals Service
Dale Smit BLENHEIM NEW ZEALAND
Dale Smit is a 30 year old Special Olympics athlete from Blenheim on the north eastern tip of the South Island of New Zealand.
Dale has been involved in Special Olympics for many years, competing in Athletics. He competed in the World Summer Games in Shanghai in 2007, concentrating on the 100m sprintevent.
Dale has been a Special Olympics Global Messenger since 2010 and
TEAM 5 fortunate to be asked to presenet medals at the SO New Zealand National Games in 2013.
He is an avid runner and is in training for 10km and half marathon events. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 5 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Rick Allen NEW YORK, USA
Rick Allen has been involved with the Torch Run for the past 21 years and became involved shortly after starting his career with the New York State Police. Rick has risen through the ranks, serving as a Sergeant, Station Commander, Uniform Lieutenant, BCI Lieutenant, Uniform Captain and has been in his current position as a BCI Captain since November of 2013. Rick has been married to his wife Sharon for 23 years. They have two children, Danielle and Ricky. His Son Ricky has been involved in LETR events participating in the Polar Plunge for the last 5 years. Rick is the LETR chair for the Canandaigua Polar Plunge and RUN Dead event in Rochester. He has also chaired the Rugged Run event at Bristol Mountain. Rick also participates TEAM 5 in numerous other events such as Law and Orders at Applebees and Red
Robin, Over the Edge and Cops on Top. Rick became hooked on Special TORCH RUNNER Olympics when he was asked as a young Trooper to run the Torch into opening ceremonies of a local Special Olympics event and then hand out medals.
New York State Police
Jeff Cook MISSOURI, USA
Jeff Cook has been involved with the Torch Run since 2004 and became involved with Torch Run while working with his current agency, the City of O'Fallon Police Department. Jeff was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2012 and is currently assigned to the Patrol Division. Jeff has been married to his wife, Trina, for 21 years. They have one son, Riley, who is a sophomore in college as well as a member of the Missouri National Guard.
Jeff has been his agency coordinator since 2007, a member of the Missouri LETR State Committee since 2009 and sits on planning committee for the
TEAM 5 Polar Plunge. He is an assistant Region Coordinator the St. Louis/ Eastern Missouri Region. One of his greatest Special Olympics memories followed a hard fought basketball game where the members of the gold medal team TORCH RUNNER exchanged medals with the silver medalist, shook their hands and hugged them for their effort.
City of O'Fallon Police Department Team 5 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Lisa Hampton KENTUCKY, USA
Lisa Hampton has been involved with Law Enforcement Torch Run for the past six years and currently serves on the executive board for Kentucky's Torch Run. Lisa is employed with the Bellevue Police Department and currently holds the rank of Sergeant. Lisa is also an attorney. She practices family law when she is not enforcing criminal law.
As president of the Campbell County Fraternal Order of Police, Lisa has successfully encouraged other officers in Campbell County to become involved with Special Olympics and Torch Run activities. Lisa helps manage TEAM 5 and facilitate the Northern Kentucky Polar Plunge which is held in Bellevue
on the first Saturday in February each year. Thanks to the support of her FOP TORCH RUNNER and the Bellevue Police Department this event has grown each year in size and donations.
Bellevue Police Department
Claire Hawthorn NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
Claire Hawthorn took part in her first Torch Run in 2007. She was so touched and had such a positive experience from this that she offered to help out more. She has been part of the NSW LETR committee for the last five years.
She is currently the only female operative in the Public Order and Riot Squad in the NSW Police Force. The Riot Squad is normally viewed as one of the heavy arms of the law, dealing with the more nastier aspect of society. She feels it such a nice contrast to then being involved in such a positive community aspect, with the acceptance, love and respect from the SO TEAM 5 athletes and families. TORCH RUNNER For the five years that the NSW LETR has run their major fundraising event of the Plane Pull, Claire has been part of the winning, Riot Squad's team.
New South Wales Police Force Team 5 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Allen Jones GEORGIA, USA
Allen Jones got involved with Special Olympics while attending Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1983. In 1985 he started assisting Metro Atlanta SO athletes while coaching track and field for the Quicksilver Track Club. In 1999, Allen became a LETR volunteer and his Departmental Coordinator in 2007. He was appointed to the Georgia LETR for SOGA Executive Council in 2008 to present. Since becoming his Departments Coordinator for LETR, Allen coordinated events, raising over $150,000 within seven years, making his department one of the top fundraising agencies in Georgia.
TEAM 5 Allen is married to Shellie with four children; Jada, Allen Jr., Avery, and Shyette. He also has two grandchildren, Jaierick and Anya. Allen served 23 years in the US Army Reserves, retiring in 2008. He is a 25 year veteran with TORCH RUNNER the MARTA Police Department, obtaining the rank of Lieutenant prior to his retirement in October 2014.
MARTA Police Department
Randy Spurr IOWA, USA
Randy Spurr has been involved with the Iowa Law Enforcement Torch Run for the past 15 years after joining the Warren County Sheriff's Office. Randy was promoted to Chief Deputy 2 years ago and is currently assigned to supervising patrol, dispatch and the jail. Randy is married to Cindy, a school teacher and has 2 children, Zach and Nate. Randy's wife and children also help him with the Special Olympic events that he puts on and assists others with in their state.
Randy has helped with and participated in many events in his state. His TEAM 5 primary event is the Warren County Polar Plunge that he hosts. In the spring
of 2014 Randy was elected as the Assistant LETR Director for Iowa where he TORCH RUNNER works with an amazing group of individuals whom always work hard to put the athletes first.
Warren County Sheriff's Office Team 5 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Otis Stevens ST KITTS AND NEVIS
Otis Stevens has been a Police Constable in the Royal St. Christopher-Nevis Police Force for the past seventeen years. He became involved in the Torch Run in his first few months as a police recruit while attending the police academy and has been participating ever since.
Otis is single, never been married and has no children. He has served in several police districts and units on the island of St. Kitts which included a five year stint in the Special Services Unit (SSU) which is a specially trained paramilitary unit within the police force. TEAM 5 Otis is currently working in the National Prosecution Unit attached to the Courts. Otis has represented his agency many times in athletic meets around TORCH RUNNER the Caribbean. He is currently serving on the Fundraising Subcommittee for the LETR.
Julie Tilbury ONTARIO, CANADA
When Julie Tilbury was asked to manage the 2011 Winter Games in Thunder Bay, she immediately said yes without thinking. These games were going to be in honour of her cousin Cam, a Special Olympics athlete who passed away in 2010. The introduction into the world of Special Olympics, the interaction with the athletes and the cohesion of the LETR committee keeps her willingly dedicated to the program.
Julie has helped to organize the many LETR fundraising events in Thunder Bay including a Polar Plunge, Mall Toll, Conquer the Fort Mud Run to name a few. This year they have successfully raised over $150,000. TEAM 5
Julie is a constable currently assigned to media relations, Crime Stoppers TORCH RUNNER and crime prevention strategies. Julie is married to John and has a 13 year old son named Zachary. The entire family is very involved in sporting activities and charity events in the community.
Thunder Bay Police Service Team 5 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Steve Nigrelli NEW YORK, USA
Steve Nigrelli is a 24 year veteran with the New York State Police and serves as a Captain with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Western New York.
Steve has been involved in Torch Run since 1994, has been a member of the State Committee since 2006, served as Torch Run Leg Coordinator for Western New York, Regional Director and has been the New York Torch Run Director since 2011. He is a member of the LETR International Executive Council and in 2013 was awarded the Sgt John Carion "Unsung Hero" Memorial Award. TEAM 6 Steve was a Final Leg Runner in South Korea in 2013, and served as a Team Leader at the USA National Games in New Jersey in 2014. TEAM LEADER
Steve has been married to his wife Lenore since 1990 and they have two sons, Taylor 22 and Toran 21.
New York State Police
Jonathan Sparks NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Jonathan Sparks has been involved with Special Olympics for more than 35 years. In that time he has participated in Aquatics, Track and Field, Bowling and Golf.
Jonathan is an excellent example of a Special Olympics athlete and volunteer. He holds his own car wash ever summer with the proceeds going to SO Northern California. He also raises money and participates in the Polar Plunge each year. He attends various annual LETR events including running the Torch Run from the State Capital prior to Summer Games. He also speaks as an athlete representative at various informational sessions to bring TEAM 6 awareness to Special Olympics.
Jonathan volunteers his time in the Sacramento office completing tasks as assigned. In addition, he also volunteers his time to the Elk Grove Food Bank
and is enrolled in a class at his local community college. ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 6 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Sébastien Charlebois QUEBEC, CANADA
Sébastien Charlebois has worked for the Department of Public Security in Quebec, Canada for the past 8 years as a Correctional Officer.
Sébastien became involved with Special Olympics in 2012 after becoming interested in raising money for people in need. He developed the idea of a ‘Karting Challenge’ in Quebec City which attracted 80 challengers and raised more than $10,000 for Special Olympics. This year, his organisation and his union created a foundation to encourage others Correctional officers to
TEAM 6 create their own activities for Special Olympics benefits.
Sébastien’s other interests include camping, cross country running and TORCH RUNNER reading
Services Correctionnels du Québec
Kate Deering MINNESOTA, USA
Kate Deering has been involved with Torch Run for the past five years and became involved after joining the Brooklyn Center Police Department in Minnesota. Kate is a Field Training Officer, a Use of Force Instructor, a member of the Domestic Abuse Response Team, on the board of the Brooklyn Center Police Officers' Association, and is assigned to the Patrol Division.
Kate is currently in charge of organizing the Brooklyn Center Torch Run by creating the Run, Jump or Fly 5k, a run where participants dress as Super
TEAM 6 Heroes. The 5k and 1k for children was very successful for a first time event.
Kate looks forward to creating new fundraising opportunities, raising more TORCH RUNNER public awareness towards Special Olympics and recruiting more Law Enforcement volunteers.
Brooklyn Center Police Department Team 6 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Eric Hampton ALABAMA, USA
Eric Hampton has been in Law Enforcement for 26 years. He and his wife Michelle relocated to Alabama from Virginia where he joined with Homewood Police Department. They have three children, Stephon a college senior and two identical twin girls, Brittany and Brianna both juniors in High School.
Eric became involved with the Torch Run, after he was invited by his Deputy Chief to witness some of the biggest smiles ever by the athletes.
TEAM 6 Eric is currently assigned to the Training Division and Team Sergeant on the SWAT Team. He also leads the department LawFit Team. TORCH RUNNER
After his first experience in a local Torch Run event, he's been chasing those smiles since.
Homewood Police Department
Mick Klose SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA
Mick Klose has been involved with the Torch Run for the past 6 years, shortly after the South Australia Police formed a LETR Program.
Mick has been a Senior Constable for 13 years and is currently assigned to Transit patrols in Adelaide. Mick is married and has two children, Ben and Charlotte.
Mick is involved in coordinating events for the local Police games, along with a Police Remembrance Motorcycle ride to the nations capital, Canberra. TEAM 6 Mick became hooked when first introduced to the local athletes and families and the enjoyment from participating in the games. He was a Final TORCH RUNNER Leg Runner in the 2013 SO Asia Pacific Games in Newcastle and 2014 SO Australia National Games in Melbourne.
South Australia Police Team 6 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Jeremy Needles UTAH, USA
Jeremy Needles has been with the St. George Police Department since August 2005. Prior to that he served full time in the US Army. He was stationed at Fort Sill Oklahoma and ended his career in with a trip to Iraq as part of the invading troops in 2003.
Jeremy took over his Police Department's charitable organizations program which includes the LETR and Shop with a cop in 2008. He is responsible for setting up the events and fundraising for both organizations. He has been married to his great wife, Heidi, for 8 years and they have a one year old daughter named Kinley. Jeremy has been involved his entire life with the TEAM 6 understanding and appreciation for those with special needs as his mother
was a teachers aide for kindergarten aged children with special needs most TORCH RUNNER of his entire life. His mothers love and appreciation for those children inspired Jeremy to do the same. His inspirational heros are those that participate in the Special Olympics.
St George Police Department
Albert Negron NORTH CAROLINA, USA
Albert Negron is a 12 year veteran and has been involved with the Torch Run for the past seven years after transferring to the Super Kids Unit of the Winston-Salem Police Department. Albert was a willing volunteer and did whatever was asked of him. Albert is married to his wife, Terri, who has been a blessing by supporting him along the way. They have a daughter, Kristi who is married to Stephen (Albert got his son). Albert continues to learn and is proud to share in the responsibility for the Polar Plunge and Charity Hockey events, raising over $40,000 each year .
The pivotal moment for Albert in embracing the Torch Run was meeting the TEAM 6 athletes for the first time and seeing their warm and friendly smiles. The
athletes make him want to strive to be more like them. They have changed TORCH RUNNER his life for the better. It was when he was asked to present medals to the athletes from all across the state and seeing their smiles and enthusiasm, Albert knew he found his passion and his new heroes.
Winston-Salem Police Department Special Olympics athlete oath Team 6 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Karen Och ALASKA, USA
Karen Och has been involved with the Torch Run for over six years and became involved after joining the Anchorage Police Department.
Karen is a 17 year officer who has served in many positions, including traffic, domestic violence investigator, warrants officer, backgrounds and currently on patrol. Karen is married to her husband Jim, who is a truck driver. Karen has two grown children, Angela and Robert. She is also a proud grandmother to Leila.
TEAM 6 Karen has been the Torch Run Area Coordinator for the last three years. During that time Special Olympics Alaska has won awards each year for raising over $500,000 in a year and for being the third highest per capita TORCH RUNNER fund raiser in the world. After escorting athletes to light the Flame of Hope several years ago, Karen was inspired to remain involved with the athletes.
Anchorage Police Department
Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.
Special Olympics athlete oath Team 6 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Mark Harrison MANAWATU, NEW ZEALAND
Mark Harrison has over 31 years service with New Zealand Police and has worked in a variety of areas including the response to two of the nation's worst disasters - a 2010 Mine Explosion which killed 29 miners and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake which devastated the city and resulted in the loss of 180 lives. He has also acted as Police Liaison Officer for the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams in Delhi (2010), London (2012) and Sochi (2014). In 2013, in recognition of his efforts, he was awarded one of New Zealand's highest honours - as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Mark was the driving force behind the creation of LETR NZ and is its founding Torch Run Director. He participated as a Torch TEAM 7 Runner in the 2011 Final Leg in Greece. TEAM LEADER
Mark and his wife Delwyn have been married for 24 years and have two sons, Kent and Ryan. They live in Feilding, in the Manawatu Region on the North Island.
New Zealand Police
Joshua Norris VIRGINIA, USA
Joshua is 24 years of age and lives in Blacksburg, Virginia. He has a twin brother, Benjamin who is also a Special Olympics athlete. He has participated in many sports over the past ten years, including Track and Field, Bowling, Basketball, Alpine Skiing, Swimming and Softball. He is a serious distance runner, having competed in 5km, 10km, half marathon and marathon events. His best time in a marthon is 3 hours 41 minutes.
He looks forward every year to running with local law enforcement as they complete their sections of the torch run across Virginia. TEAM 7 In 2013, Josh was selected as a Special Olympics Global Messenger for Virginia. He excels at public speaking, thoroughly enjoying speaking to groups about Special Olympics. He is an outstanding representative for Special Olympics, whether speaking one-on-one with supporters or before
large groups. ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 7 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Azeem Ali TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Azeem Ali has been involved with Law Enforcement Torch Run in Trinidad and Tobago for the past two years and is currently the Port Police representative on the National Torch Run Committee. Azeem has attained the rank of Sergeant and is the Alternate Port Facility Security Officer for the Port of Spain as well as being in charge of the Port of Spain Ferry Terminal. Azeem and his wife Grace, who is a stay-at-home mom, have two children, Al- Saleem and Alina who are both attending primary school and involved in many sporting activities. TEAM 7 Azeem has embraced LETR and encourages other law enforcement officers in
Trinidad and Tobago to take part in its activities and to volunteer to this TORCH RUNNER cause. His favorite Torch Run memory is taking part in the Final Leg in Trinidad and seeing the smiles on the faces of the athletes as they ran.
Port Authority Police Department
Tammy David RHODE ISLAND, USA
Tammy David has been with the East Providence Police Department for the past 17 years. Tammy first got involved with the Torch Run when her son, Cote, was born with Down Syndrome. She has been running in the Torch Run in Rhode Island and presenting medals at the Winter and Summer Games for over 10 years. A few years after getting involved, Tammy became the Torch Run Coordinator for her department.
Tammy says that it is the smiles on the Special Olympics athlete's faces that kept her coming back year after year. TEAM 7
Tammy is lucky to have two important jobs in the Torch Run. One as an East TORCH RUNNER Providence Police officer raising awareness for Special Olympics. And secondly as a MOM of a Special Olympics athlete.
East Providence Police Department Team 7 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Ramon Mooser SWITZERLAND
Ramon Mooser joined the Swiss Police in 2007 and was stationed in the City of Fribourg which located about 35km (20 miles) south west of the Swiss capital Bern. Ramon has been attached to the Drug Enforcement Investigation Team since 2008.
Ramon is married (in 2012) with a young daughter who was born in 2014. His hobbies include running (he has completed two marathons) and winter sports. He heard about the Torch Run through a colleague in 2014 and was deeply impressed by the purpose and goals pursued by Special Olympics. TEAM 7
This organisation was a fit for him, considering his love of running as a TORCH RUNNER hobby. He took part in his first torch run event in 2014 and is looking forward to to the 2015 Final Leg.
Police Cantonale Fribourg
Russell Moran LOUISIANA, USA
Russell Moran is a Lieutenant with the Kenner Police Department in southern Louisiana. He is currently a Patrol Squad Commander. In his 22 years of law enforcement he has served as a Crime Scene Technician, Internal Affairs Detective, and the Traffic Service Section Commander.
Russell is married and the proud father of three. His hobbies include fishing, working out and running.
TEAM 7 Russell has participated in the Louisiana Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics for the past five years. He has assisted in events such at the Polar Plunge and Over the Edge. Russell enjoys being a part of the TORCH RUNNER Special Olympics family and watching the athletes excel.
Kenner Police Department Team 7 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Susan Rinschler INDIANA, USA
Susan Rinschler has recently been introduced to all that encompasses Special Olympics. She has been a Trooper with the Indiana State Police for almost three years and currently patrols the city of Indianapolis. Susan spends her time away from work riding her motorcycle and exploring the Hoosier National Forest on her mountain bike. Susan has been involved heavily in the local community and has taken the lead on the "tip-a-cop" events in the area and have raised thousands of dollars for Special Olympics. Indiana State Police in a one day event raised almost $12,000. TEAM 7 A great honor for Susan was when she was asked to represent State of
Indiana and the Indiana State Police in the Final Leg. Susan can't wait to TORCH RUNNER spend the rest of her career partnering with Special Olympics in more LETR events.
Indiana State Police
Shawn Rowden SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
Shawn Rowden has been involved with the Torch Run for the past 12 years. Shawn is currently assigned to the Patrol Division at the Prince Albert Police Service. Shawn was introduced to the Torch Run through his wife Rhonda who was the coordinator at the time. Rhonda is also an 18 year member of the police service. They have been married for 13 years. Shawn and Rhonda have two children, Grace and Rhett. Two years ago Shawn took over the role as the coordinator. Shawn is a board member of the local Prince Albert Law Enforcement Torch Run (PALETR). The PALETR raises on average $40,000 per year through fundraising. All money raised is directed entirely to the athletes. TEAM 7
The pivotal moment that connected Shawn with the Torch Run was simply TORCH RUNNER spending time and getting to know the athletes. Shawn views the athletes as role models and truly amazing people who have an extremely positive outlook on life.
Prince Albert Police Service Team 7 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Carl White MICHIGAN, USA
Carl White has been involved with Law Enforcement Torch Run for the past eighteen years, becoming involved while working as a Sergeant at the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan. Carl has been working for the Michigan Department of Corrections since 1987. His current position is Captain at Alger Correctional Facility in Munising.
Carl is married to Carla who also works at Alger Correctional Facility. They have two dogs; Lucky and Damon. Carl has two children from a previous marriage, Carl Jr and Ashley and two grandchildren, Braydon and Desman. TEAM 7 Carl has been involved in many fundraisers for LETR including organizing the Law Enforcement Torch Ride which has raised over $30,000 since its TORCH RUNNER inception. Carl got hooked on Special Olympics when he was asked to attend a local area basketball event.
Michigan Department of Corrections
Team 7 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Gary Gordon REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Gary has been a member of the Republic of Ireland's unarmed police force since 1990. Gary is in charge of the Community Policing Unit in his District, which covers a population of 50,000. The role of Community Policing Gardai is to deliver a service to and interact with all sections of the Irish Community. Policing by consent is the motto of the force and the Special Olympics is a perfect partner for what the ethos of Community Policing is all about.
Since becoming involved, his family have been bitten by the Special Olympics bug and now take part in the Polar Plunges and the Cops on Donut Shop events run in the area. Gary is the Secretary and Treasurer of the ROI TEAM 8 LETR Programme and runs Cops on Donut Shop and Polar Plunge events, each year. The first CODS was in Kilkenny and is now in its fifth year. TEAM LEADER
Gary has taken part in the 2009 Final Leg in Idaho as a Torch Runner and the 2013 Final Leg in Korea as a Team Leader
An Garda Siochana
Maria Brandt PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Maria is 25 years of age and lives in Danville, Pennsylvania. She has two siblings - Christopher and Emily. She is quiet and mild mannered and has no trouble in making new friends.
Maria has participated in a number of sports over the past fifteen years, including athletics, bocce, basketball, floor hockey, tennis and soccer. She has an impressive record in athletics winning medals in 4 x 100, 800, 1500, 3000 and 5000 meter events. TEAM 8 This will be Maria's first experience in a major Torch Run event and she is over the moon to have been selected as one of the Special Olympics athletes on the Final Leg team. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 8 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Cheryl Cepelak CONNECTICUT, USA
Beginning in 1988, Cheryl Cepelak's career with the State of Connecticut has seen her expertise utilized in a number of important assignments with several different agencies. Currently she is the Deputy Commissioner of Administration at the Department of Correction.
Cheryl has been volunteering and participating in SOCT / LETR events for the past three years. She has fundraised and taken part in 3 Penguin Plunges at Hammonassett State Park; 2 OTE events at Mohegan Sun; waited tables at a few Tip-a-Cop events at Joey Garlic’s and conducted Pay-to-Parks at the DOC
TEAM 8 to support Special Olympics. Cheryl attended her first SOCT / LETR conference iin Orlando in 2013 and also had the honor of bestowing medals on athletes at the Summer Games in 2013. Deputy Commissioner Cepelak TORCH RUNNER continues to be a driving force in the Department of Correction's support of the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics Connecticut.
Connecticut Department of Correction
Tony Kavan NEBRASKA, USA
Tony Kavan has only recently become involved with the Torch Run, and is trying to make up for lost time. Tony was promoted to Sergeant in July 2013 and assigned to the Nebraska State Patrol Training Academy where he had his first experience with the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Prior to that Tony had participated in Minden, Nebraska by being part of a scrimmage squad with the local Special Olympics football team. Tony has been married to his wife, Elizabeth, for 15 years. Elizabeth was the first
TEAM 8 person to expose Tony to the Special Olympics when she served as part of the documentation team for the SO National Games in Lincoln in 2010. Tony is honored to have been chosen to represent his state, and the TORCH RUNNER Nebraska State Patrol at the Final Leg.
Nebraska State Patrol Team 8 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Loretta Mackey BAHAMAS
Loretta Mackey has been a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force since 1983 and is currently the Superintendent in charge of the Eight Mile Rock Division on Grand Bahama Island. She has previously worked as a Press Liaison Officer and Prosecutor.
Loretta and her husband Theodore have been married for 30 years and have four children and three grand children. Her family have been involved with Special Olympics for more than 25 years. Loretta has coached a ‘Lions’ T-Ball team and has been a Team Leader of a Police Youth Group. She enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, reading, singing, playing the Bass- TEAM 8 guitar and playing softball, tennis and volley-ball. TORCH RUNNER Loretta has a passion for service particularly working with victims of Domestic Violence and Young People. She deems it an honor and privilege to represent her Country and Organization in any act of service.
Royal Bahamas Police Force
Michael McIntosh COLORADO, USA
Michael McIntosh has been involved with the Torch Run for the last five years and is the current LETR Director for State of Colorado.
Michael is a 27 year veteran of the Adams County Sheriff's Office and was elected as Sheriff in November 2014. Michael is married to his wife of over 27 years, Cathy. Both he and Cathy often speak publicly, and are awed and inspired by the confidence and courage of Special Olympics athletes who speak at various events. TEAM 8 Michael and Cathy spent many years on the sports circuit watching Chris
and Jessica (their grown children) play baseball and volleyball. Competition TORCH RUNNER is a huge part of their family dynamic, as is their involvement in church and ministry activities.
Adams County Sheriff's Office Team 8 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Lo Hyun Park REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Senior Superintendent Lo Hyun Park retired from the Korean National Police in 2012 after a 37 year career. He is married with two sons. Since his retirement, Lo Hyun works at a university in Seoul as the Dean of Administration. In his spare time, Lo Hyun enjoys hiking, golf, reading, travel and photography.
Lo Hyun was first exposed to the Law Enforcement Torch Run in the lead up to the 2013 Final Leg in Korea. During that event he took part in the Polar Plunge. TEAM 8 Lo Hyun attended the LETR International Conferences in Indianapolis (2012) and Orlando (2013). TORCH RUNNER
He hopes to be able to continue contributing to the growth of LETR in Korea.
Korean National Police
Sam Rankin NORTH DAKOTA, USA
Sam Rankin is a positive supporter in Cass County and the state of North Dakota with the local and state Special Olympics community for the last 5 years. Sam is assigned to the Cass County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division and active in the Special Projects Division as well.
Recently Sam helped coordinate the "Tip-A-Cop" fundraiser for North Dakota and helped raise $22,000 far surpassing the $18,500 from the prior year. Sam spreads an enthusiastic passion for Special Olympics that is contagious.
TEAM 8 He understands that Special Olympics unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, everyday around the world and empowers people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and TORCH RUNNER values members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful an inclusive society for all.
Cass County Sheriff's Office Team 8 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Adi Reiter AUSTRIA
Adi Reiter has been involved with Torch Run since 1993. He and his wife Michaela who is a school teacher have two children, Verena and Stefan.
Adi was the founder of the Austrian Law Enforcement Torch Run program and he is still a member of the Special Olympics Austria Board. He is also the president of a local Lions Club in his city. With this club he organizes a charity brass-concert each year for the Austrian Special Olympics movement. Adi has participated in Final Leg events in 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2007.
TEAM 8 Adi is a active Detective in the criminal investigation department in
Salzburg. He manages a team investigating people smuggling and human TORCH RUNNER trafficking.
In his spare time he likes to go running, skiing or to the gym.
Landeskriminalamt Salzburg
Gummi Sigurdsson ICELAND
Gummi Sigurdsson has been involved with Torch Run for one year and started the first Torch Run held in Iceland in November 2013. Since then Gummi has held Torch Runs in May and November 2014.
Gummi has been in the police for 14 years and has been a Detective investigating serious crime for the past 8 years. Gummi and his wife Karen have four children, Thordis, Sigurdur, Sindri and Alexander and two grandchildren, Leonard and Natan. They are involved in many community sporting activities with their family. Gummi is also a chairman of a sports
TEAM 8 club for people with disabilities with over 100 athletes as members.
Gummi is the founding Torch Run Director for the LETR program in Iceland. TORCH RUNNER The pivotal moment for Gummir in embracing the Torch Run was when he took part in the European LETR conference in Belgium in 2013.
Police Sudurnes Iceland Team 8 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Joanne Wild BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Joanne Wild has over 23 years service with the Vancouver Police Department and is a Staff Sergeant working in District 3. She first became involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run in 1996 and has not looked back. Joanne is now the Team Captain for the BC LETR and recently hosted the Canada Final Leg Team. Joanne doesn't have any children of her own, but is the proud aunt of a niece and two nephews who are all in their 20's. Joanne, along with two other police officers, created a Club Fit program for Special Olympic athletes in the Vancouver area which occurs from October to April each year. The program involves three stations focusing on strength, agility and coordination and runs for an hour each Wednesday. Like many TEAM 9 officers who are involved in the LETR and Special Olympics, Joanne gets so much more out of her involvement than she ever realized she would when TEAM LEADER she started. Joanne is also an avid runner who has completed numerous marathons, ultra-marathons and adventure races. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends.
Vancouver Police
Nigel Davis JAMAICA
Nigel Davis is 38 years of age and lives in Kingston, Jamaica. He has participated in every Special Olympics World Games (both Summer and Winter) since 1991. He won a Silver Medal for Ice Skating at the 2013 SO World Games in Korea. He has also competed in Football, Floor Hockey, Floorball, Roller Skating and Athletics (including the Marathon).
TEAM 9 He is very shy and smiles a lot. Nigel is very excited about taking prt in the 2015 Final Leg. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 9 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Steve Bonini NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Steve Bonini has served with the El Cerrito Police Department for the past 17 years and is currently a Patrol Division Commander at the rank of Lieutenant. He has been involved in Special Olympics since 1999, when he participated in his first Torch Run as a bicycle officer. As a Sergeant, Steve was assigned to the Traffic Unit where he escorted Torch Runners and was an escort for the Summer Games held in Berkeley. Steve organized Tip-A-Cops in El Cerrito, having events where over $4,000 was raised. While standing in line waiting for traffic court, Steve and other officers hatched the idea of a competitive bike ride among the western Contra Costa County law enforcement agencies. It wasn't long before the idea of a competition TEAM 9 turned into a fundraiser for Special Olympics and Bike the Bridges was
created. In the five years of the event, over $300,000 has been raised. TORCH RUNNER
Steve and his wife Elaine have been married for 20 years and have a son and daughter (Chloe and Mario).
El Cerrito Police Department
Victor Carter BARBADOS
Victor Carter has for the past 12 years been a Corrections Officer with the Barbados Prison Service. He currently works at HM Prison Dodds as a Special Projects Officer. He also teaches horticulture and landscaping to the inmates.
Victor has been involved as a volunteer with Special Olympics Barbados since 1995 and feels that he has benefitted greatly from the interaction with the athletes in that time. He loves working with children with special needs and would like to see more to assist the disabled in his country. Victor really enjoys the opportunity to play Bocce with Special Olympics athletes. TEAM 9
Victor is very close to his parents and keeps in close contact with his brother TORCH RUNNER and sister who live in the UK and US respectively. He gets great assistance from his parents and his girlfriend with any projects that he commences in support of Special Olympics Barbados.
Barbados Prison Service Team 9 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Bruce Felton OHIO, USA
Bruce Felton is an Administrative Lieutenant with Solon Police Department, a small southeast suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. He has been a patrolman, detective, trainer and fleet manager for his department and functioning as a Lieutenant since 2001. He has been active in the Law Enforcement Torch Run and related activities since June of 2001.
Bruce and his wife Joann live in Solon and have four daughters Isabella, Gwen, Dylana and Ashley, as well as three dogs, a cat, and two fish. Joann is
TEAM 9 also a police officer for the Solon Police Department and currently serves as the DARE officer for the Solon School District. They both enjoy fitness, family activities, and have worked together on many Torch Run events. Joann has TORCH RUNNER also been involved with the Torch Run since 2001.
Solon Police Department
Lisa Hunter MONTANA, USA
Lisa Hunter has worked for the Montana Department of Corrections for 17 years and is currently the Professional Development Bureau Chief within the Office of Human Resource. Lisa has been married to her husband, Marty, for 27 years and they have three adult sons.
Lisa has been involved with the LETR program for the past 14 years. She is a member of the Executive Council, a leg leader for two sections of the torch run and has participated in three polar plunges. In 2014, Lisa was the recipient of the Unsung Hero award for her outstanding support and contribution to the LETR. Lisa has met so many wonderful people and has TEAM 9 been given so many rewarding and fulfilling opportunities by being
involved with SOMT LETR that she loves paying the opportunity forward and TORCH RUNNER sharing with other people. Lisa enjoys spending time with family and friends. She enjoys sporting events, stock car races, camping at the lake, reading, biking and taking long walks.
Montana Depart of Corrections Team 9 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Jacqui Robertson VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
Jacqui Robertson is a Senior Sergeant for the Priority Communities Division and has been involved with Torch Run for the past three years. Jacqui has held the position of Secretary for LETR Victoria since 2012 and was joint Operations Commander for the Special Olympics Nationals Games in 2014 in Melbourne.
Through Jacqui’s role at the Priority Communities Division she provides support to the disability portfolio. Jacqui has a passion for the rights of people with disabilities and in ensuring people with disabilities are TEAM 9 included, supported and able to pursue their hope and dreams in the
community. Jacqui is married and her husband, Peter, is also a police officer. TORCH RUNNER They have two adult children, Travis and Lachlan and enjoy spending family time together on a regular basis.
Victoria Police
Eric Smith ILLINOIS, USA
Eric Smith has been the Police Chief of the Sherman Police Department since 1991. Eric was elected as 4th Vice President of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police in 2006.
This is when he was introduced to the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run. He has been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run since that time and was appointed to be the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run Director in 2011. Eric earned his Bachelor's Degree from Concordia College in Public
TEAM 9 Administration in 2003.
Eric lives on his family farm just east of Sherman with his wife Marla. He is TORCH RUNNER the proud father of three children and two grandchildren.
Sherman Police Department Team 9 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Mike Still SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
Sgt. Mike Still has been in law enforcement with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety for 24 years. He is currently the Community Relations Officer for the State Transport Police. He and his wife Kelly have three children - Stephen (also a torch runner) Rebecca and Matthew. He has been involved with The Torch Run for over ten years. He is a Summer Games, Fall Games and Area Games volunteer. Mike has led his agency to raise over $55,000 a year and they remain one of the top fund raising agencies in the state. He is the main organizer of the South Carolina Truck Convoy for Special Olympics and the Lake Murray Polar plunge. He has been the Torch Run Director for South Carolina for almost two years and has been a member of TEAM 9 the Torch Run Council for over five years. He has been the Torch Run Director
for South Carolina for the past two years. TORCH RUNNER
Mike enjoys hunting, boating, hiking and camping. He is also on the Board of Directors for the SC Troopers Association.
South Carolina Department of Public Safety
Brian Zimmermann WISCONSIN, USA
Brian Zimmermann has been involved with the Torch Run for the past 21 years, not long after joining the Racine County Sheriff's Office. Brian was promoted to Lieutenant about four years ago and is currently assigned to third shift patrol. He is also one of the Sheriff's Office lead instructors. Brian is married to Colleen and they enjoy walking and playing with their pets. Brian has been on the Special Olympics State Board. He helps organize several legs for the torch run.
He recently began working on a 5K "RUN WITH THE COPS" for Special TEAM 9 Olympics. Brian has always enjoyed working with the Special Olympics. TORCH RUNNER He is very proud of the growth of the participation within the local Torch Runs.
Racine County Sheriff's Office Team 9 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Ben Macfarlane NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
Ben Macfarlane has 25 years police service and is a Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant based just out of Sydney, with responsibility for 25 staff. He is married and has four teenage children (Chantelle, Ebony, Lachlan and Liam). All are involved in sporting activities (the girls play netball, the boys play rugby league) and have assisted with the annual New South Wales Law Enforcement Torch Run `PLANE PULL' event at the Royal Australian Air Force base for the past 5 years.
Ben has been involved with LETR since 2002 and is currently serving as the Vice President of LETR NSW. He involves himself in as many LETR events as TEAM 10
possible, balancing this with family and full time work commitments. From TEAM LEADER the moment he escorted the `Flame of Hope' around NSW in 2002 as a police motorcyclist he has been hooked on the movement and plans many more years of LETR involvement.
New South Wales Police Force
Cody Pierce KANSAS, USA
Cody Pierce is 24 years old and lives in Pittsburg, Kansas. He has three siblings (Tim, Randi and Nikki).
Cody is a very active sportman, participating in powerlifting, athletics, bocce, basketball, flag football, bowling, softball, rodeo, aquatics, snowshoeing, skiing and tennis. He recently won a gold medal in Long Jump at the US National Games in New Jersey. He was the KOAM TV Athlete of the Year in 2013 and was also presented with an LETR Inspiration Award by Pittsburg Police Department. TEAM 10
He is extremely proud to have been selected as a Special Olympics athlete on the 2015 Final Leg team. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Team 10 - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Ricardo Clayton MISSISSIPPI, USA
Ricardo Clayton became involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run shortly after starting with the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department 14 years ago. Ricardo Clayton has continued to assist and support the Special Olympics even outside of Torch Run events. Ricardo now serves as Chief of Campus Police / Director of Safety and Security for the Meridian Public School District. Ricardo also serves a Chaplain for the Town of Marion Police Department. Ricardo and his wife Shawna have been married for 18 years. They are proud parents of two children, Gage and Zaria, a surviving twin and Special Olympic Athlete. TEAM 10
Ricardo has served for the past two years as the Power Lifting coordinator for TORCH RUNNER the State of Mississippi Summer Games. Ricardo's love of all people is what keeps him connected with the Special Olympics.
Meridian Public School District Police Department
Brett House OKLAHOMA, USA
Brett House has been involved with LETR for 20 years and Special Olympics for 21 years. Brett is currently a Police Service Technician at Will Rogers World Airport Division working traffic control and parking enforcement. Brett has used his personal interest and hobbies to create several fundraisers, including Karaoke Contests and Motorcycle rides.
Brett has also done Roof Sits over the years in helping raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. Brett's proudest Torch Run moment was when he carried the "Torch Of Hope" at the 2007 Oklahoma Summer
TEAM 10 Games. TORCH RUNNER Through his own involvement with Special Olympics Brett has gotten his whole family participating in events and volunteering at State Games level.
Oklahoma City Police Department Team 10 - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Stephanie Lindsay JAMAICA
Stephanie Lindsay is a mother of three lovely children. She has been actively engaged in the Law Enforcement Torch for Special Olympics Jamaica for over 15 years, both as a runner and coordinator of Torch Run activities, including a 5K Run. She currently works at the Community Safety and Security Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), which is the department that is responsible for organizing all major LETR activities. In the last two years she has been acting as the LETR Director and is currently working with her department to expand the Torch Run activities in order to raise in excess of $5M JMD to offset the cost of sending the largest Jamaica
TEAM 10 Special Olympics team to 2015 Games in Los Angeles. TORCH RUNNER LETR for Special Olympics is now a passion for her and her biggest dream is to have more countries in the Region participating in the program.
Jamaica Constabulary Force
Christine McShea PENNSYLVANIA
Christine McShea has been a member of the Philadelphia Police Department for 25 years. She has worked patrol as an officer and supervisor, investigations as a detective and supervisor, and was a certified instructor in the mandatory in-service training curriculum and police recruit curriculum. She is currently a sergeant assigned to Internal Affairs. Christine comes from a law enforcement family, with two brothers and other relatives in the Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and Delaware State Police. Christine has two children, Teresa (19) and Daniel (18).
Christine became involved in her local LETR three years ago along with her TEAM 10 brother Kevin, also a Philadelphia Police Officer, and has loved the privilege and opportunity to run with the athletes for such a wonderful program. TORCH RUNNER Christine spends her free time being outdoors as much as possible and spending time with her kids.
Philadelphia Police Department Team 10 - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Michaela Moloney REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Michaela has been involved in the LETR since 2006 when she was an instructor at the Garda Training College and was asked to accompany a group of students participating in a Torch Run for the All Ireland Special Olympic Games being held in Belfast. Following on from this Michaela was lucky enough to be selected for the Final Leg team for the 2007 European Games in Italy. Since then she has arranged a number of indoor athletics and swimming events at the Garda College. She has also raised over €20,000 for Special Olympics.
Her sister Hilda and her brother Anthony, both members of An Garda
TEAM 10 Siochana, are also very involved with the LETR and Special Olympics.
Michaela favourite moment of the 2014 Games was leading the parade of TORCH RUNNER athletes through Limerick City to the Opening Ceremony where the LETR runners welcomed the athletes to Opening Ceremony with high fives, cheering, clapping, shaking of hands - the excitement was Pure Magic!!!
An Garda Siochana
Charalampos Stylianiou CYPRUS
Charalampos Stylianou (Pampos) has been married to Athina since 1989, with three children, Spyros aged 21 studying Law, Helen aged 17 and Antigoni aged 13, both students.
Pampos has 25 years police service, most of which in the Drugs Law Enforcement Unit, Crime Investigation Department, Crime Prevention Department. He has been awarded by the Police Force with the Medal of Honor. Pampos is interested in hunting, fishing, soccer, listening to music and watching movies.
TEAM 10 He has been active member of Cyprus Police Torch Run since 1998 and has
always been interested in helping athletes with special needs. Pampos took TORCH RUNNER part in a Final Leg in Rome in 2006 and also attended the LETR Conference in Orlando, Florida in November 2013. He feels honored to have been selected for the Final Leg.
Cyprus Police Team 10 - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Dan Urizar IDAHO
Dan Urizar has been involved with Torch Run for the past six years and became involved not long after joining the Ada County Sheriff's Office.
Dan started his career as a non commissioned deputy working in the inmate records office of the department. After a year in inmate records Dan applied and was selected to transfer into the jail as a detention deputy where he has worked for the last 5 years. Dan is also a member of the jail's Special Response Team.
Dan is a single father to a 7 year old girl named Peyton. Dan was selected to TEAM 10 the Idaho LETR Council in 2013 and is helping build the program in Idaho. Dan was honored to be given the opportunity to present medals to the TORCH RUNNER athletes after the 2009 SO World Winter Games and has been hooked ever since.
Ada County Sheriff's Office
Torch Run, Torch Run running proud, Torch Run Torch Run say it loud, Torch Run Torch Run full of Pride, Running with the athletes by our side. Torch Run Torch Run running hard, We are flame’s honor guard, Torch Run, Torch Run know our name, We are the Guardians of the Flame™.
Team 10 - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Jeremy Adams NORTHERN IRELAND, UK
In 2013 Jeremy retired after 30 years service with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Prior to his retirement he was the service lead for Hate Crime matters and led on a number of award winning initiatives and interventions. Since 2008 he has been the European LETR Coordinator on the LETR International Executive Council and has introduced a number of new European LETR programmes and co-chairs the SOEE/LETR Advisory Council.
In 2011, Jeremy was honored to be inducted into the Richard LaMunyon ‘Hall of Fame’. He is the director of a bespoke event company (Special Buzz)
for people with Learning Disabilities in Northern Ireland and he is also the LETR COUNCIL coordinator of a hate crime campaign (Unite against Hate) that he founded
LOGISTICS TEAM in 2011. Jeremy is a keen football and rugby supporter, and cyclist, as well as having a passion for Guinness!
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Lisa Carlone CONNECTICUT, USA
Lisa Carlone has been involved with Torch Run for the past 13 years as a volunteer and now staff member of Special Olympics Connecticut. In her current role, she is the Senior Director of Special Events and Statewide Torch Run Liaison. Lisa is married to Joe Carlone, Executive Council member and Region 1 coordinator.
Joe and Lisa met as volunteers at Special Olympics CT 8 years ago, Lisa's step- children, Alessandra and Nick also volunteer for several events throughout the year. Lisa is proud to have been on the planning committee that hosted the 2009 LETR Conference in Connecticut and remembers most the smiles LETR COUNCIL on the athlete's faces that attended the conference with the officers. LOGISTICS TEAM
Special Olympics Connecticut Logistics Team (Council) - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Ron Casalenda WYOMING, USA
Ron Casalenda has worked for the Douglas Police Department since 1981 and is currently the Chief of Police. He became involved with LETR as a runner in 1993 and began raising funds a short time later. In 1998 Ron became Wyoming's Co-State Director and held that position until 2014. In 2013 Ron became a member of the LETR Executive Council as the Coordinator for Region VIII. During these years Ron has been involved in several aspects of LETR to include being a running team member for the 2001 World Winter Games in Anchorage, AK, a running team member for the 2003 World Summer Games Athens/Ireland and a Support Team Member for the 2013 World Winter Games in Pyeongchang South Korea. LETR COUNCIL
During this time Ron has received total support from his wife Deb and his LOGISTICS TEAM two children Justin and Ashley.
Douglas Police Department
Chelsea Fidler SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
Chelsea started working with Special Olympics Saskatchewan as the Director of Marketing and Development in 2013. Part of her role at the Provincial Office is to be the Special Olympics liaison with the Saskatchewan LETR. There are a few different cities in Saskatchewan with active LETR groups, and Chelsea hopes to help increase their presence and their fundraising capabilities by supporting them from the Chapter Office with province wide initiatives.
Chelsea lives in Regina with her husband, Jakub, and their two dogs. In their
spare time, they enjoy travelling, dancing, camping, and working on various LETR COUNCIL home renovation projects. Chelsea also works with the Saskatchewan
LOGISTICS TEAM Roughriders as the Manager of their Cheer Team.
Special Olympics Saskatchewan Logistics Team (Council) - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Markus Gloessl AUSTRIA
Markus was a police officer with the Austrian Federal Police from 1975 until his retirement in 2013. For the last 19 years he has been a teacher at the Police Academy in Tyrol. In 1995 Adi Reiter, founder of Law Enforcement Torch Run in Austria, motivated him to contribute to the Torch Run on the Austrian Special Olympic Winter Games in Tyrol. The incredible fascination of the athletes inspired him so much that he helped with fundraising projects and joined several national and international Torch Runs.
The highlights for Markus were the attendance in the Final Legs in Alaska 2001, Ireland 2003, Idaho 2009, in Korea 2013 and most recently, the
European Torch Run in Belgium 2014. His most exciting experience was, LETR COUNCIL that he was allowed to accompany his friend, athlete Johannes Grander on
LOGISTICS TEAM the Torch Run in Korea. Johannes then ordered Markus to be his coach for long-distance running.
Bundespolizei Austria
Alex Kappis GREECE
Alex Kappis was fortunate enough, to participate in the 2003 Dublin WSG LETR, the 2006 Rome Europe SG LETR and the 2007 Shanghai WSG LETR as a Torch Runner, the 2009 Idaho WWG LETR as a Support Team member, the 2010 Warsaw Europe SG LETR as a Torch Runner, the 2011 Athens WSG LETR as a Support Team member, as well as the 2013 Korea WWG LETR as a Torch Runner. He considers himself extremely blessed, for having experienced these life-time events.
Alex retired from Hellenic (Greek) National Police after more than 27 years of service, and now is in the Force reserve list. His last few years in service, he spent in the IT administration of the Hellenic Police HQ in Athens, as a Computer Systems Programmer. Still single, he has strong bonds with his LETR COUNCIL family and in his leisure time he does sports such as mountain biking, LOGISTICS TEAM snowboarding/skiing and other outdoors. He loves to travel and he enjoys reading and studying.
Hellenic National Police Logistics Team (Council) - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Mike Peretti NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Mike Peretti is a thirty-two year law enforcement veteran, recently retired from the Livermore Police Department in Northern California, Mike’s career highlights include a twenty year attachment to the tactical operations unit, and assignments to traffic, criminal investigations, support services and patrol. Mike is currently a college instructor with twenty-five years teaching experience and a member of the teaching cadre for the Public Safety Training Institute. Mike possesses two undergraduate and one post graduate degrees and is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Academy.
A member of the law Enforcement Torch Run since 1998, Mike has served as
his agency’s coordinator, member of the Northern California LETR Executive LETR COUNCIL Committee, and has been a member of the LETR International Executive
LOGISTICS TEAM Council since 2003. Mike has presided as Chair of the LETR International Executive Council since 2010.
Livermore Police Department
Tory Rivers WASHINGTON DC, USA
Victoria Rivers has been involved with the Special Olympics movement since 2013. She was born and raised in Southern California till 2009 when she moved to Washington, DC to attend The George Washington University School of Business. Today, Victoria enjoys traveling, skiing and scuba diving, and spending time with friends and family.
Victoria joined the LETR team in 2014 and attended her first conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Working collaboratively with the Law Enforcement to advance the Special Olympics movement has been an unforgettable experience thus far, and she looks forward to expanding upon that through LETR COUNCIL this year's Final Leg. LOGISTICS TEAM
Special Olympics International Logistics Team (Council) - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Jeff Spaulding MARYLAND, USA
Jeff Spaulding has been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for more than 27 years, starting first as a local Torch Runner and medal presenter, then becoming more involved within his Department, his County and now serving as the Central Region Coordinator for Maryland. His "ah ha" Torch Run experience occurred when he had the privilege of rooming with Special Olympics Athlete Chris Perrault from Connecticut for 12-days during the 2005 Final Leg in Nagano Japan. Jeff has also served as a Support Team member in Athens, a Leg Leader in South Korea and a Running Team Leader at the 2015 USA Games in Princeton. When not sitting on a Dunkin Donuts or jumping into freezing water to raise money for Special Olympics, Jeff can
be found fishing, golfing (badly) or riding his Harley. LETR COUNCIL
LOGISTICS TEAM Jeff was honored to be inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame in 2014.
Westminster Police Department
Don Stuart NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
Don Stuart was a member of the NSW Police Force for over 26 years, retiring in November, 2011. Don has been involved with Torch Run since 2003. In 2005, he was selected as the Australian Torch Runner for the Winter Games Final Leg in Japan. Don coordinated the 2006 and 2010 Australian Summer Games Final Legs as well as the 2007 Global Final Leg in Sydney. Don served on the LETR International Executive Council as Region XIV (Oceania) Region Coordinator from 2008 to 2012. Don was a Team Leader on the 2011 Final Leg in Greece and the 2013 Final Leg in Korea. Don was inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame in 2013.
Don says there is nothing better than running with the Flame of Hope with LETR COUNCIL our inspirational Special Olympic athletes. Don is married, his wife Lori is LOGISTICS TEAM originally from Southern California.
New South Wales Police Force Logistics Team (Council) - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Scott Whyte NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
Scott Whyte has been involved with Torch Run since 2006 and has been the President (Torch Run Director) of LETR New South Wales since its inception. He was elected to the LETR Executive Council in 2012 as the Regional Coordinator for Oceania Region. Scott was honoured to have been asked to participate in the 2013 World Winter Games Final Leg in Korea and also at the 2014 USA National Games Final Leg in New Jersey as a member of the Logistics Team and is looking forward to 2015.
Scott has 35 years police service, 3 with Strathclyde Police in Scotland and the past 32 years with New South Wales Police Force in Sydney. He is
currently a Detective Superintendent and has been the Commander of the LETR COUNCIL Terrorism Investigations Squad since 2009. He is married (to Julianne, also a
LOGISTICS TEAM police officer) and they have one daughter, Rebecca. In his spare time, he dabbles at golf and website design.
New South Wales Police Force
Frank Williams GIBRALTAR
Frank has been involved with the Torch Run in Gibraltar since 1988 and its Torch Run Director since December 2001, as well as a Special Olympics Gibraltar Executive committee member since 1994. He is a retired firefighter with over 27 years service. Frank is married to Sandra and father of two sons.
Frank took part in the 1993 (Austria) and 1999 (North Carolina) Final Legs as well as European Final Legs in 2006 and 2010. In August 2003 he was inducted into the Gibraltar LETR Hall of Fame.
Francis is proud to be the co-founder of the first Torch Run program in
Europe and glad that to date due to the continued dedication of the LETR COUNCIL committee which he presides, and the wonderful coordination and support
LOGISTICS TEAM of the Department Liaison Officers; the Gibraltar athletes continue to enjoy their overwhelming financial and moral support.
Gibraltar Fire Service Logistics Team (Council) - Page 6 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Roberta Abner SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Roberta Abner retired in January 2015 (with 35 years service) from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) as the Chief of the Homeland Security Division. She has been involved with the Torch Run for the past 20 years, serving as Southern California's Torch Run Director for 10 years. Roberta is married to Phil, a retired LASD Lieutenant and current Reserve Officer. They have two children, Sean (an LASD Deputy) and Danielle (a marketing director). They now have two grandchildren - Devon, born in August, 2014 and Landen, born in February 2015.
Roberta's team from Southern California served as hosts for the 2010
International Torch Run Conference in Long Beach and Roberta has served as CALIFORNIA the Regional Coordinator on the Torch Run Executive Council for Region VII since 2009, and was inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame in LOGISTICS TEAM 2013. Roberta has been a Board Member of Special Olympics Southern California since 2003.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Chris Blondon SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Chris Blondon has been in Law Enforcement for 30 years, retiring at the end of 2014 from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). He has been involved in the LETR for the last 10 years. He was voted onto the SOSC LETR Council in 2006 and has been on the Council ever since.
He was assigned to the CHP Idyllwild Resident Post for the past 2 years of his career. He has mostly worked patrol but from 2003 to 2009 he was the Public Information Officer for the San Gorgonio Pass Area Office. Following his retirement, Chris plans on giving more time to the LETR. CALIFORNIA He has been married for 29 years to Christine and they have three boys, Ryan, Marcus and Jacob and all three of them have help with numerous LOGISTICS TEAM SOSC LETR events.
California Highway Patrol Logistics Team (California) - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Adam Christin SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Adam Christin has been involved with the Torch Run for the past sixteen years. Today, Adam is a Lieutenant with the California Highway Patrol assigned to the East Los Angeles Area. He has been with the Department for 29 years. Adam is married to his sweetheart, Lee and live in Downey, California. Adam has one daughter, Amanda, and Lee has three children, Jesse, Stella and Angela . Adam and Lee have lots of grandchildren and love to travel. Adam has been on the SOSC LETR Council for over 10 years and on the Executive Council for the last 6 years. In 2007, Adam started the "Plane Pull" in Southern California netting approximately $12,000. In 2014, the same event made over $120,000. In addition to his LETR duties, Adam is a CALIFORNIA coach for Special Olympic athletes. He is proud to coach swimming and softball with the assistance of his daughter, Amanda. If that weren't enough,
LOGISTICS TEAM in 2014, Adam convinced his hometown of Downey, California to become a 2015 World Games Host Town and became the Co-Chair of the event.
California Highway Patrol
Steve D'Anjou SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Steve D'anjou has been with the Torrance Police Department for over 23 years and is currently a Lieutenant. He has been involved with the Torch Run for the past seven years after being assigned to his agency's Community Affairs Division. Steve has been assigned to several other divisions since that time and has remained very involved with the Torch Run, becoming the Assistant Director of the Special Olympics Southern California Torch Run.
Steve is married and both he and and his wife, Sarah, are active in their church and Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts with their two children, Olivia (10) CALIFORNIA and Ryan (8). Steve has fun with the Torch Run and is willing to do what it takes to raise more funds. During his program's 'Over the Edge' event, Steve
LOGISTICS TEAM was able to raise over $3000 himself and went over the edge in a miniskirt and corset to help his program raise $75,000 for this event.
Torrance Police Department Logistics Team (California) - Page 2 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Rich Fernandez SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Richard Fernandez has been involved with Special Olympics for the past 12 years and been the Torch Run Assistant Vice-President for Southern California since 2005.
He currently serves on the Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Council and chairs the Awards committee as well as serving on the Marketing and Development committee.
Has also had the privilege to assist in the 2009 Global Torch Run in Los CALIFORNIA Angeles and served as a logistics team member for the Nebraska and Athens Final Legs. LOGISTICS TEAM
Special Olympics Southern California
Mike Hallinan SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Mike Hallinan is a Commander with the City of Irvine Police Department and has been involved with the Torch Run and Special Olympics since 1994. Mike has prior police experience with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department and the Los Angeles Police Department and his past assignments include Internal Affairs, Traffic Division, Special Projects, Investigations Bureau, SWAT, Narcotics, Meth Lab Task Force, FTO, DUI Enforcement, and Patrol Operations.
Mike has two sons, Chris 14 and Ryan 11 who are very active in sports. He enjoys running, lifting weights and paddle boarding. Mike was part of the
2014 New Jersey USA Games Final Leg Team and represented Southern CALIFORNIA California. Mike is on the So-Cal Law Enforcement Torch Run Council and also serves as the Orange County Regional Coordinator. Mike is honored to be LOGISTICS TEAM part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run and work with such a talented and motivated group of people.
Irvine Police Department Logistics Team (California) - Page 3 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM John Hohmann NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
John Hohmann officially retired as a Lieutenant on December 2013, after a 30 year career with the Scotts Valley Police Department.
John started running the torch for Special Olympics approximately 15 years ago. He became the department's coordinator and began fundraising and attending Summer Games each year for the last seven years. John's signature event is "Police in Pursuit." A fun and unique fundraising event that puts officers behind the wheel of a race car. Officer's race against each other on a quarter mile dirt oval track. This event is becoming very popular
and is growing each year. CALIFORNIA
John's proudest moment was being selected to represent Northern LOGISTICS TEAM California at the 2014 USA Games as a Final Leg Runner.
Special Olympics Northern California
Shawn Maples NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Shawn Maples has been involved with the Special Olympics for the last 6 years and is the ride director for an event called Bike the Bridges for Special Olympics. This event exceeded all goals and has averaged over $60,000 each of the last 5 years and has nearly 600 riders.
Shawn is the Traffic Sergeant for the El Cerrito Police Department in Northern California where he has worked for the last 28 years. Shawn currently hold a position as the Assistant Director of the Northern California Law Enforcement Torch Run. In 2010 Shawn attended his first LETR Conference in Long Beach where he became inspired to take his involvement with the Special Olympics
to a whole new level. CALIFORNIA
This is also where he met Diana, the love of his life. Together Shawn and LOGISTICS TEAM Diana are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to anything related to the LETR.
El Cerrito Police Department Logistics Team (California) - Page 4 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Gerri McCorkle SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Gerri McCorkle has been involved with Torch Run for the past 10 years. She is a sergeant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and is married to her husband Mark, a commander with the same Department.
Special Olympics has become a family affair as their children Bradley (28), Andrew (24) and Erin (23) regularly participate in fund raising events for Special Olympics. Gerri is the chairperson for her Department’s annual chili cook off, co-chair of the polar plunge and a committee member for the World’s Largest Bunco tournament event. CALIFORNIA Gerri actually began her Special Olympics involvement back in college and feels blessed to be able to combine her law enforcement career with such a LOGISTICS TEAM worthy movement.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Mark McCorkle SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Mark McCorkle has been involved with Torch Run for the past eight years and became involved at the urging of his wife, a sergeant with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
Mark was promoted to the rank of Commander with the LASD in June 2013 and is currently assigned as the Chief of Staff to the Sheriff.
He is married to his wife of 32 years, Gerri, and has three adult children; Bradley (28), Andrew (24) and Erin (23). Mark is involved with several LETR fund raising events including his Department’s annual chili cook off, polar CALIFORNIA plunge and is chairman of the annual World’s Largest Bunco tournament.
LOGISTICS TEAM Mark has been hooked on Special Olympics since he awarded his first athlete medal eight years ago.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Logistics Team (California) - Page 5 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Ruth Sanchez NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Ruth Sanchez has over 20 years experience in corporate and non-profit organizations. Ruth is a proud parent of a Special Olympics Athlete Jacob Sanchez and served as the Torch Run Development Director for Special Olympics Arizona from 2008-2012.
She is currently the Senior Development Director/TR Liaison for Special Olympics Northern California. Ruth has served on several International LETR committees, conducted concurrent sessions at LETR International Conferences and was a support team member of the 2011 Special Olympics World Games LETR Final Leg in Greece. Over the span of her career, Ruth has
conducted successful LETR fundraising campaigns resulting in raising CALIFORNIA millions for Special Olympics Athletes on the west coast. Ruth considers herself an ambassador and advocate for Special Olympics Athletes that LOGISTICS TEAM transcends state, country and continent boundaries. Her hobbies are running, writing children's stories and study of theology.
Special Olympics Northern California
Every where we go, People want to know, Who we are,
So we tell them,
We are the Torch Run, Mighty, Mighty Torch Run, Special Olympics Torch Run, Law Enforcement Torch Run®, Final Leg Torch Run, World-wide Torch Run, Torch Run,
Torch Run,
Torch Run.
Logistics Team (California) - Page 6 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Harry Drucker SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
Harry Drucker is a 27 year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. His work with law enforcement training in the area of video production has made him a unique member of the support arm of the LETR.
Since early preparations for the International Conference in Long Beach, California in 2010, to the 2015 Final Leg, Harry has made it a goal to communicate the message of the movement in entertaining and creative ways.
Harry and his wife Pam have three children.His oldest daughter, Jenna is attending college at Taccoa Falls College in Georgia, Sophie is 10 years old and Jacob is 8. DOCUMENTATION Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Andrea Kramer IDAHO, USA
Andrea started her law enforcement career as a dispatcher for the Boundary County Sheriffs Office and went on to become a Sheriff’s Deputy and Narcotics Officer for the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, serving 11 years. She was also a State Dispatch Instructor and EMT Instructor for ten years. Andrea’s first LETR was in 1986. Andrea left law enforcement and worked in the medical field in Senior Management.
Since the early 80’s, Andrea has always kept her hand in professional photography and still owns and operates Stampede Lake Photography Studio – Kramer Photography with her husband David. Andrea was a photographer for the 2009 Final Leg LETR for Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho, 2010 Final Leg in Nebraska, 2011 Final Leg in Greece, 2013 in South Korea, and 2014 in New Jersey. Her top three passions in life besides her family… are photography, Special Olympics, and LETR Final Leg! DOCUMENTATION
Documentation Team - Page 1 2015 LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FINAL LEG TEAM Dave Kramer IDAHO, USA
David Kramer began in his law enforcement career as an Explorer with the Boundary County Sheriffs Office. He was hired as a patrolman at the age of 19 and worked his way up in the department serving as Assistant Chief and retiring as Police Chief with Bonners Ferry Police Department after 30 years with the department, the last 20 as Chief. After retiring from the department Dave went to work as the Law Enforcement Coordinator at the NIC Basic Patrol Academy where he still works part-time. David began his involvement with the Law Enforcement Torch Run in 1986 on a local level and has continued to be involved since that time. David was selected as a runner for the 1993 Final Leg in Austria, and then served as a running team leader for the Final Leg in Idaho in 2009. David along with his wife Andrea have served as Photographers/Documentation Team members on the Nebraska, Greece, Korea, and New Jersey Final Legs. David and Andrea live in the scenic area of North Idaho overlooking a lake where they enjoy the outdoors with ATV rides, walks, biking, camping and photography. DOCUMENTATION Bonners Ferry Police Department
Frank Tewey MARYLAND, USA
Captain Frank Tewey of the Anne Arundel County (MD) Police Department has been dedicated to the Torch Run for the past six years. He serves as commander of his agency's Community Relations Division and as their LETR coordinator. His efforts have raised over $25,000 for Special Olympics through LETR shirt sales, Tip-a-Cop events and the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge. Frank received the very prestigious Flame of Hope award from the Maryland LETR and most recently served as Guardian of the Flame at the 2014 International LETR Conference in New Orleans. He is a current member of the MD-LETR Executive Committee and serves as a Regional Coordinator.
In 2014, Frank participated in the USA Games Final Leg in New Jersey where he served on the Documentation Team as a photographer. Frank, his wife, Susanne, and two sons, Noah and Adam, reside in Annapolis, Maryland. DOCUMENTATION Anne Arundel County Police Department Documentation Team - Page 2