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Law Enforcement Torch Run supports Special Olympics

Flame of Hope carried to 2019 Summer Games at University of Delaware
Sr. Cpl. Tim Maloney of Milford Police Department carries the flame on the first leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run as it leaves Rehoboth Beach. The first mile was in memory of fallen officers Cpl. Christopher Shea of Delaware State Police and Patrolman Chad Spicer of Georgetown Police Department.
Ron MacArthur
June 18, 2019

The 33rd annual Delaware Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics kicked off the first leg of the 160-mile journey of the torch around the state June 12 in downtown Rehoboth Beach. Over the past three decades, law enforcement officers have raised more than $8 million to support Special Olympics through the event.

The first mile was run in memory of two fallen Sussex County police officers – Cpl. Christopher Shea of Delaware State Police and Patrolman Chad Spicer of Georgetown Police Department. Shea, assigned to Troop 7 in Lewes, died July 18, 2004, when his car was hit by a drunk driver traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Route 1 near Milford. Spicer was shot and killed in the line of duty on Sept. 1, 2009.

On June 13, groups from Georgetown and Delmar departed meeting up with the Rehoboth Beach group in Harrington for a final push to Odessa on the second day. On June 14 on the last leg, the Olympics Flame of Hope was carried into University of Delaware stadium for the 2019 Special Olympics Summer Games opening ceremony. More than 500 law enforcement officers took part in the event.

Delaware State Police officer Kristopher Thompson is Torch Runner of the Year and Col. Vaughn Bond of New Castle County is Law Enforcement for Special Olympics chairman.

Delaware River and Bay Authority PFC John Costa brings in the lit torch to start the event.
Sr. Cpl. Tim Maloney of Milford Police Department is honored to lead off the Torch Run.
Col. Vaughn Bond of New Castle County is this year’s Law Enforcement for Special Olympics chairman.
Nicola Pizza in Rehoboth Beach is honored as a long-time sponsor of the Torch Run and Special Olympics. At the presentation on the Bandstand are (l-r) Kelly Munyon of Nicola Pizza, Suzie Schaible of Sussex Riptide, Nick Caggiano, owner of Nicola Pizza, and Greg Nolt, event coordinator who has been involved since the inception of the Torch Run.
The band 33 1/3 performs on the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand during the send-off ceremony for the Torch Run.
Special Olympics athletes get in the groove as they dance before running in the Torch Run.
A law enforcement motorcycle escort leads runners and walkers out of downtown Rehoboth Beach.
Special Olympians and law enforcement members join at the start of the 33rd annual Law Enforcment Torch Run.
A motorcycle escort keeps a lane open on Route 1 for law enforcement officers.
Law enforcement officers and members of the current police recruit class join to carry the torch along Route 1 in the first leg of its statewide journey.

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