Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics!

This year Nicole and I actually went to a “Kickoff Meeting” for the 2009 LETR and Fund Drive for the Special Olympics and we are trying to get involved earilier in the year, and on a little larger scale than just scrambling to put a running team together on the day of the Torch Run which by the way, will be June 2^nd. We will still definitely need your participation in the run of we have only missed one in the 10 years I have been at WPD, but we are also trying to figure out new ways to raise a larger contribution to the Special Olympics Fund Drive besides the usual and much appreciated $300 that the Police Union so graciously donates to the Special Olympics each year.

One thing we are doing is actually fairly painless and easy for you to get involved. We are selling of “paper LETR torches”. These are like the “paper shamrocks” or “pink paper ribbons” or other paper symbols of support for different causes that I am sure you have purchased for a $1 at local businesses from time to time. The LETR torches are currently being sold for a $1 at the WPD Records Window and will be posted in the HQ lobby for all to see who supported the LETR and Special Olympics. There is a poster and a couple of torches at the window asking people to ask how they can support. Jen and Dorrie have already had a few people ask and have sold a few. Thanks very much. Evening/Midnight Shift CSO, Support Services, and Patrol personnel may also be asked about the torches when waiting on citizens at the window during the off shifts. Please answer their questions and accept the donation if they offer to buy a LETR paper torch.

If you buy or sell a torch (and I hope you will do both), write the name in Sharpee on it, put the donated $1 in the envelope provided near the window, and put the torch on the Traffic Office Desk. I will display it in the HQ lobby on the following day.

We hope to raise $1000 so we can qualify for a LETR Special Olympics Supporter Torch Plaque to display at WPD this year. If you think you can sell some torches please stop by and pick a few up, sell them for $1, write the person’s name on it, and bring it back to be posted in the lobby. Maybe a business in your neighborhood will sell a few and they can actually post them at their place of business. Just go by and collect the donated $1 from time to time.

We might also be asking for your support at a “Tip a Cop” event or something like that if we think we need to do something else to help reach our $1000 goal but right now, your support of the “LETR Paper Torch” effort would be much appreciated.

Thanks so much for your support and participation in advance. It is really important as during these challenging economic times, the Special Olympics needs Law Enforcement’s Support even more than ever as donations from the general public may be down a little this year.

D. L. Anderson

Patrolman 39