Glendale and Burbank police officers take to the streets to promote Special Olympics
Glendale Police Sergeant Andrew Jenks carries the torch at the start of the Glendale leg of the annual Special Olympics torch run on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.
A group of sweaty Burbank police officers, cadets and Explorers ran up to the Glendale border Wednesday afternoon carrying a lit torch.
The team of eight had just jogged more than 4 miles in 80-plus-degree heat as part of the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, an annual event held to raise awareness about the summer games slated to kick off this weekend in Long Beach.
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At the intersection of Alameda Avenue and Glenoaks Boulevard, the Burbank team passed the torch — dubbed the Flame of Hope — to a group of Glendale officers waiting to start their 5.5-mile leg of the relay.
“It’s just such a worthy cause, such a worthy opportunity to spread the word,” said Glendale police officer and first-time runner Mike Wenz.
The two agencies were among the couple hundred that participated in the annual event, and for parts of the trek through the two cities, local Special Olympics athletes joined police.
Among the runners was Burbank Police Lt. JJ Puglisi, who has participated in the torch run several times.
“They give everything they’ve got to compete,” he said of the Special Olympics athletes. “It’s the least we can do to come out and support them.”
He was joined by an officer, a recruit, two cadets, an Explorer, a jailer and a family member from Burbank.
“I’m glad to see we had a good showing of cadets and Explorers,” he said. “That’s the next generation — I’m glad they’re on board with the community service mindset.”
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Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com
Twitter: @atchek
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