Crime & Safety

SVPD Officers Are Guardians of the Special Olympics Torch

Officers raised over $2,500 for the Special Olympics and ran the torch through the city on Wednesday.

Scotts Valley Police Officers traded in their uniforms for running clothes Wednesday afternoon as they took part in the 2011 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Ten Scotts Valley Police officers joined the more than 500 law enforcement personnel from throughout Northern California that participated. The SVPD officers ran together carrying the torch for almost three miles through the city starting at the Scotts Valley Hilton and ending at the Scotts Valley Fire District’s Glenwood station.

The annual Torch Run is a part of a year-round fundraising campaign by police departments from all over Northern California. The money raised goes toward supporting the Special Olympics of Northern California and its summer games, which take place this year at UC-Davis from June 24-26. The Law Enforcement Torch Run, which raised over $1 million last year, is the single largest supporter of Special Olympics Northern California

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“It cost almost $500 to support one athlete for one sport at the games,” said Dorreen Roth, law enforcement Torch Run director for SONC. “And most athletes compete in more than one sport. We could not do this without the help of law enforcement. They are great role models and great officers.”

Scotts Valley’s officers have raised $2,680 to date from fundraisers such as a poker tournament, Tip a Cop restaurant nights and officers sending out emails to friends and family. Currently, SVPD has raised the second highest amount out of the Northern California law enforcement agencies participating, and its biggest fundraiser is still yet to come—a Police in Pursuit event in August at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville.

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Scotts Valley Police chaplain and pastor of New Hope Church, Steve Shober, participated in the run for the first time this year.

“I just thought it would be a great thing to do,” Shober said. “I love supporting things in the community and this is such a great cause.”

Scotts Valley Police dispatcher Keith Tyndall raised money and ran for the second year in a row.

“It’s motivating, inspiring and a nice way to get out and do something that has an impact on the community,” Tyndall said.

Tyndall added that one of the things he looks forward to each year is meeting some of the athletes who ran with the officers.

“It just really brings it all together and adds a more personal touch to it,” Tyndall said. “It’s nice to see the appreciation they have for what we do to help out the cause.”

Along with officers from the SVPD, officers from Watsonville and Capitola police departments, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol fundraised and ran. The Santa Cruz District Attorney’s Office also participated.

The Torch Run began in Watsonville on Wednesday morning and the route took officers from the various agencies through the county with a stop at the Santa Cruz Courthouse where the district attorney’s office took over the flame and ran it to Scotts Valley where the SVPD finished it off.

Special Olympian Shaun Saffen of Santa Cruz ran with officers throughout the day, starting in Watsonville and ending in Scotts Valley. He has participated in the Santa Cruz County leg of the Torch Run for six years and says he loves to be able to run in his hometown.

“What the police officers do really helps us,” said Saffen, who competes in track and field events. “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them.”

Roth said the Torch Run is special because it is about showing appreciation to law enforcement for their support, and she adds that SVPD is one of the top agencies she works with.

"They're great to work with; they're fantastic," she said. "Scotts Valley really understands what it means to be guardian of the Special Olympics flame. They raise money all year long to earn that honor. Scotts Valley is one of my hardest-working agencies, especially being how much smaller they are than most. They really compete to raise just as much money as other agencies that are much bigger."


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