Santa Barbara County Law Enforcement officers will go beyond the normal call of duty and run in the Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Wednesday, June 7.
With more than 80 law enforcement officers from South Santa Barbara County, the Torch Run starts at 8:30 a.m. at Refugio State Beach and ends at Rincon State Beach at about 4 p.m.
There will be a Torch Run Ceremony at around 1:10 p.m. outside the Santa Barbara District Office, 1112 Santa Barbara St.
Runners will represent all law enforcement agency in the South County, including Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, Santa Barbara Police Department, District Attorney’s Office, Santa Barbara County Probation Department, UCSB Police, California Highway Patrol, Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol, and SB Airport Patrol.
The South Santa Barbara County portion of the Southern California Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg is coordinated every year by Lt. Butch Arnoldi of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. With some 40 years of experience coordinating the Torch Run, Lt. Arnoldi has been instrumental in sustaining the success of the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Santa Barbara.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run movement has become the largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics. Local Law Enforcement Agency officers volunteer at sports competitions and participate in the Special Olympics Tip-A-Cop events, and the Annual Polar Plunge fundraiser, collecting funds to benefit local Santa Barbara County Special Olympic programs.
Southern California Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg will feature hundreds of officers carrying the Flame more than 1,500 miles through 200 Southern California communities.