By John J. Kriz
On Friday, June 6 at 10am, starting at Elm Street and South Avenue in the heart of downtown, numerous officers in the New Canaan Police Department (NCPD) set forth on their part in the three-day multi-town Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run, in support of the Connecticut Special Olympics and participating athletes. During the torch run, local police and supporters carry the torch from town to town, ending in Jess Dow Field at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). New Canaan Public School students and student interns with NCPD joined in on the New Canaan leg, with many students and townspeople, both young and old, cheering on the runners from the sidelines.
According to Lisa Carlone, senior director of Special Olympics Connecticut, “law enforcement is the single largest fundraiser for Special Olympics globally, and Special Olympics here in Connecticut.” In 2024, over $800,000 was raised in Connecticut, and $65 million globally.
The torch run began in Greenwich, moving on to Stamford and then New Canaan, with the runners from New Canaan racing down South Avenue to the Darien town line for a handover. A phalanx of motorcycle police from several towns and police vehicles led the way for the runners. From there the torch’s path ran through Norwalk, Westport and beyond to SCSU, accompanied by officers from around Connecticut for the opening ceremonies. There, the runners take a lap around the field, and light a cauldron for the formal Special Olympics summer games kick-off. “Over 1500 officers run twelve different legs throughout the state,” said Ms. Carlone.
The Connecticut Special Olympics competition took place the following Saturday and Sunday at SCSU, Hamden Hall Country Day School and Yale University. Sporting events include track and field, swimming, cycling, tennis, soccer and race-walking.
According to Officer Kelly Coughlin, the NCPD’s liaison with the Special Olympics, law enforcement’s involvement began in the 1980s, and the NCPD has been involved for decades. “There was a chief down in Wichita, Kansas who started this whole movement. So the credit really goes to him for getting law enforcement involved.” Over time “it became a common theme that was spread across the country that law enforcement wanted to build bonds with members of the community that they may historically not have had the best relationship with, or that they may not have a ton of contacts with. So it was an effort to bond those groups together in a positive experience, to get to know each other and to get to support the Special Olympics organization.”
Officer Coughlin stressed the broad community support for NCPD’s Special Olympics involvement, saying, “it’s important to note just how involved the community can get in events like this. For example, we had students from multiple schools, including the high school, Saxe Middle School and South School, that were out watching.” In addition, “we had preschoolers from New Canaan Daycare Center and from the YMCA that were out watching.” People from Town Hall were also there in support, including First Selectman Dionna Carlson. “There were plenty of people that were lining the streets, and coming out to watch and support our efforts.”
Fundraising by NCPD for the Special Olympics is a yearlong effort. Some funds come from local business sponsors. NCPD also did a ‘Penguin Plunge’ in April, when “you get a group of people together and raise money and you run into the ocean and you do a plunge.” That event raised more than $1000.
The mission of Special Olympics Connecticut “is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities; giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.” Nearly 14,000 athletes participate throughout the year, according to its website. The Paralympics, a similar organization, focuses on athletes with physical disabilities.
The Special Olympics is a worldwide movement, with chapters in every state and around the world. This is also true of the torch run, with similar runs taking place globally.
John J Kriz is a 30+ year New Canaan resident.
