Twelve members of the recently laced up their shoes to run for Special Olympics.
The men and women gathered the morning of June 21 to volunteer their time to run the West Metro Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics MN.
The run began at the park and ride at Zachary Square and proceeded to the intersection of Bass Lake Road and Northwest Boulevard. The torch was then handed off to Plymouth Police Department. In all, the group from the Maple Grove Police Department ran about five miles during their leg of the Torch Run. The West Metro Final Leg begins in Maple Grove and runs through Plymouth, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Edina, and Richfield.
The following police department members from Maple Grove participated during the 2012 Torch Run: Captain Keith Terlinden (administration), Rochelle Nelson and Elisa Swenson (clerical), Officers Grant Smith, Darren Struckmann and Angela Tschida (patrol), Tammy Carver, Jeff Mohs and Robin Dreyer (reserves), Detectives Brad Holzerland and Laurel Slawson (investigations) and Nancy Larson (friend of law enforcement).
The Minnesota Torch Run is supported by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, Minnesota F.O.P. and the Minnesota State Patrol Troopers Association, according to the Special Olympics Minnesota website. Only two years ago, the statewide effort by law enforcement raised more than $1.6 million for Special Olympics Minnesota.
More than 80,000 law enforcement officers and personnel from thousands of agencies around the world have carried the "Flame of Hope” during the Torch Run, according to the Special Olympics website, which concludes at the opening ceremonies of local Special Olympics competitions.
In an email to Patch, Detective Brad Holzerland said, “We at the Maple Grove Police Department are proud to play a role in carrying this Flame of Hope.”
Information provided by the Maple Grove Police Department as well as the Minnesota Special Olympics website.
Interested in helping out the Special Olympics? .
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