Police find a torch to bear

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT-MESA -- The cities’ police officers traded their black boots

for running shoes Thursday morning as they carried the Special Olympics

torch through the area.

Between them, 14 Costa Mesa and Newport Beach police officers ran 10

miles bearing the torch in their hands.

The run is an annual event put together by Southern California law

enforcement agencies. This year 23 agencies participated from San Diego

and Orange counties. The opening ceremony for the Special Olympics will

take place June 15 at Cal State Long Beach.

It was the first year the Costa Mesa Police Department participated in

the run, Sgt. Don Holford said.

“They asked us if we were interested, and we really wanted to be part

of it,” he said.

Newport Beach officers have participated for at least five years, said

Environmental Services Officer Lloyd Whisenant.

Officers are usually enthusiastic about the run, he said.

“Every time I put out a notice on the board, I have no trouble getting

volunteers,” he said. “For us, it’s our way of showing our support to the

Special Olympics.”

The Special Olympics torch run began Tuesday at the U.S.-Mexico

border. Since then, it has passed through a variety of cities in San

Diego and Orange counties.

On Thursday, the torch was handed over by Laguna Beach police officers

to Newport Beach officers on Coast Highway. From there, the torch blazed

along Coast Highway and North Dover Drive, where it was handed over to

Costa Mesa officers at the corner of Dover and Irvine Avenue.

Costa Mesa officers then ran with the torch along Irvine and Santa Ana

avenues, past Bristol Street to Campus Drive, where State Parole officers

took over.

The purpose of getting law enforcement agencies involved is to raise

awareness among the public, said the event’s coordinator, Irvine Police

Sgt. Jeff Noble.

“It’s great,” he said. “It’s a wonderful event and a worthy cause.”