Local law enforcement personnel participated last week in the 2022 Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Seventeen members of the Garner Correctional Institution (CI) staff and four members of Newtown Police Department ran with the “Flame of Hope” torch over its Newtown route on June 3. School Resource Officer (SRO) William Chapman escorted the group on his bicycle. It was one of the largest contingents of runners for Newtown in recent memory.

Officer Stephanie McDermott, just a few weeks away from giving birth, sat out this year’s run but was at the starting point to cheer for her fellow officers. Newtown PD Chief David Kullgren, Captain Bryan Bishop, and SRO Matthew Hayes also offered support to those running last Friday morning.

The torch arrived in town from Bethel, crossing the Newtown line right around noon. The Newtown group had been waiting in front of Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company’s station. Newtown Police Sergeant Matt Wood accepted the torch from Shane Carlson, a member of the US Army Reserves running with the Bethel group.

It took less than an hour for the local police officers and CI staff members to cover the 5-plus-mile route.

Once the torch is in hand, runners in Newtown follow Dodgingtown Road (Route 302) to Sugar Street (still 302), cross Main Street onto Glover Avenue, bear left onto Queen Street, and then right onto Church Hill Road (Route 6), ending their run in the parking lot of Blue Colony Diner.

Wood said last week there are two tough spots on that route. Within the first mile, participants face a steep pitch where Dodgingtown Road shifts from its southeastern direction to a northeastern direction at that road’s intersection with Hattertown Road.

Wood called the 140-plus yard stretch “intense.”

Even more challenging than the steady incline where Sugar Street passes its intersection with Boggs Hill Road, according to Wood, is the final slight incline when runners are traveling over Main and Queen streets.

“That’s really tough, because you’re really tired then,” he said.

The group pushed through, as always, arriving at the 66 Church Hill Road parking lot around 1 pm, where family, friends, and other supporters were waiting with coolers filled with water.

A Connecticut State Trooper was also there, ready to receive the torch for its next leg.

Three Flame of Hope torches cross the state in the days leading to the opening ceremonies for Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) Summer Games. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is SOCT’s largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle.

At its most basic level, the Torch Run is a running event for the officers and athletes who carry the Flame of Hope to the opening ceremonies of local tournaments, or state, provincial or national Summer or Winter Games. Further, the Torch Run program encompasses a variety of fundraising vehicles. Donors can sponsor any of the runners who travel with the torch, or purchase related items, all to benefit Special Olympics.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.