Police officers will be on the run across Missouri the next two weeks. The Statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) begins Saturday, May 18, and continuse through Friday, May 31.
Law Enforcement officers from around the state will be running the torch to raise awareness for Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) and the 2019 State Summer Games. The State Summer Games will be held in Springfield on May 31 – June 2. The culmination of the Torch Run – lighting of the Flame of Hope – is at 7 pm May 31 Opening Ceremony at Hammons Student Center, Springfield.
The 2019 Torch Run Route Schedule follows below. If you have questions or would like more information regarding the Law Enforcement Torch Run, visit www.somo.org/torchrun or contact Crystal Schuster, Development Director, at cschuster@somo.org or (573) 469-7839.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is an annual event founded by the Missouri Police Chiefs Association (MPCA) 32 years ago. The guiding purpose of the event is to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Missouri. Special Olympics is law enforcement’s charity of choice, not only in Missouri but worldwide. More than 2,300 runners from 119 agencies from across the state will participate in the 2019 Torch Run. These runners will complete 37 different routes and cover more than 1,000 miles across Missouri.
Missouri Law Enforcement Agencies are attempting to raise more than $2 million this year through various fundraising initiatives including the Polar Plunge®, selling Torch Run T-shirts and organizing special events such as the World’s Largest Truck Convoy®, Over the Edge® and Tip-A-Cop® events.
2019 Law Enforcement Torch Run® Routes May 18-31, 2019
Region 1 (NW Region) (8 Routes)
US 71 South from Maryville – May 21st @ Nodaway County Courthouse @ 9:00 am Contact: James Runde, Maryville Treatment Center, 660-582-6542
Missouri Highway Patrol Troop H – May 21st from Kawasaki in Maryville south on US 71. 5K will end south of 308th St. The 10K will continue to just south of 340th St. – right after Maryville run. Contact: Jeffery Ellis, Troop H, 816-387-2345
Savannah Route from Town Square to 71, 71 to park to St Rose of Lima Catholic Church – May 21st @ 12:30 p.m. Contact: Daniel Zeigler, Savannah Police Dept., 816-324-7541
St. Joseph Route starting at Aquatic Park on Messanie – May 21st @ 3:00 p.m. Contact: Rita Ketchem, St. Joseph Police Dept., 816-271-4701
Chillicothe Route from Simpson Park to Fire Station – May 22nd @ 9:00 a.m. Contact: Carrie Pfeifer, Chillicothe Correctional Center, 660-646-4032
Trenton Route – May 22nd @ 10:30 a.m. Police Dept. to Shop-Ko parking lot. Contact: Sheriff Rodney Herring, Grundy County Sheriff’s Dept., 660-359-5557
Gallatin Route – May 22nd @ 11:30 p.m. Courthouse around square down Main St. Contact: Larry Adams, Daviess County Sheriff Dept., 660-663-2031
Cameron Route – May 22nd @ 1:30 p.m. Cameron Police Dept to Valero Gas Station. Contact: Jenny Brownlee, Crossroads Correctional Center, 816-632-1390 ext 5138
Region 2 (Kansas City region) (3 Routes)
Platte County Route –May 22 @ Hwy 152 & I-435 on Hwy 152 @ 8:00am. Contact: Sgt. Greg Crader, Platte Co. Sheriff’s Dept., 816-858-3408 c.
KC Route from the Silverstein Arena – May 31 @ 10:30am. Contact: Amanda Geno, Lee’s Summit PD, 314-724-0957, Amanda.geno@cityofls.net or Sean Allwood, Independence PD, sallwood@indepmo.org
Region 3 (SW region) (5 Routes).
Joplin Route – May 21 @ Joplin PD South Station (712 E. 32nd St., Suite #1) – 8:00am. Contact: Jason Barchak, Joplin PD, 417-627-8880
Webb City Route – May 21 @ Big Lots @ 9:10am. Contact: Teague Braker, Webb City PD, 417-673-1911
Carthage – May 21 @ Central and Baker – 9:00am. Contact: Chad Dininiger, Carthage PD, 417-237-7200
Lamar Route from Lamar East Primary School to McDonalds– May 21 @ 9am. Contact: Dennis Cornell, Lamar PD, 417-682-3546
Final Leg in Springfield – May 31 @ First & Calvary Presbyterian Church (820 E. Cherry St). 2:30pm meet and check in, 3:00pm the run begins (start at Church and into downtown Springfield) Final Leg Dinner at 4:00 pm
Ceremonial Run lineup 5:30pm. Run on Campus/mingle with athletes – 5:45pm
Uniformed officers for Parade of athletes line up 6:30 pm -6:45 pm Opening Ceremonies 7:00-8:30pm
Contact: Mark Priebe, Springfield PD, 417-837-5863
Region 4 (NE region) (5 Routes)
US 63 from Kirksville – May 23, @ the Adair Co. Courthouse – 8:00 am. Contact: Officer Ron Collinge, Truman State DPS – 660-342-5166, roncollinge@truman.edu and Jason Underwood – 660-956-2799, junderwood@kirksvillecity.com
US 63 from Macon – May 23, @ First Baptist Church – 10:00am. Contact: Sgt. Eric Brown, Troop B 660-988-1513, eric.brown@mshp.dps.mo.gov
Moberly Route – May 23 – Orscheln Farm and Home to 63 and Renick – 1:00 pm. Contact: Bosko Ogenovski, Moberly CC – 660-412-2196
Hannibal – May 24, @ Start at Mark Twin Brewery –6:30 am. Contact: Jennifer Grote, Hannibal PD, 573-231-2405
Brookfield Route – May 25 – Park Baptist Church. Contact: Sgt. Jeff Henke, Brookfield PD – 660-258-3385, jhenke@brookfieldcity.com
–Metro Voice