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Torch Run

2023 New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run Guardians of the Flame State Conference Recap

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On Feb. 2 – 3, 2023, more than 80 New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run (NMLETR) agency coordinators from over 30 public safety departments across New Mexico gathered at the Clyde Hotel in Albuquerque for the 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Guardians of the Flame State Conference. The NMLETR state conference was hosted by Bernalillo County Fire Department, featuring the inaugural NMLETR Miners Lamp presentation, the inaugural Conference Torch Run, and a poker/bingo fundraising tournament. 

The state conference training sessions featured two presenters: Retired Albuquerque Police Department Lieutenant Ferris Simmons, and Cynthia Macluskie with the Autism Society of Arizona, who informed and educated our agency coordinators on developing important communication skills and safe engagement with children and adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Our Be Safe presentation partnered nearly 20 Special Olympics New Mexico athletes with our attending agency coordinators to educate both groups on positive interactions outside of Special Olympics activities between the intellectual and developmental disability population and public safety officers.

The conference concluded with the annual Agency Milestone Dinner and Awards Presentation, where agencies that raised multiple levels of funds last year from their community policing activities were honored and recognized. Four agencies were recipients of our Legend Milestone Award (over $20,000): Las Cruces Police Department, Rio Rancho Police Department, Lea County Sheriff’s Office, and Farmington Police Department. Additional agency milestones included: Gold (over $8,000): Otero County Prison Facility and Bernalillo County Fire Department; Silver (over $4,000): Albuquerque Police Department, Lovington Police Department, IGUA 69, Bosque Farms Police Department, and Valencia County Sheriff’s Office; Bronze (over $1,000): Los Alamos Police Department, Eunice Police Department, New Mexico Probation and Parole- Albuquerque, Santa Fe Police Department, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, NM Probation- Clovis, Hobbs Police Department, Taos County Sheriff’s Office, Belen Police Department, Los Lunas Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, US Probation, Sandoval County Fire Department, Espanola Police Department, and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. 

 

Special Olympics staff capped the awards presentation by announcing a total of $416,951 raised by law enforcement agencies through various community policing activities.

 

We want to extend a huge thank you to all of the local sponsors of the 2023 Guardians of the Flame State Conference: ABQ Orthodontics, Admiral Beverage, All-In-Autographs, Amber Care, Brown & Associates, Calvary Church, Cabela’s, Champion Car Wash, Chick-fil-A, Chuze Fitness, Dion’s, Duke City CrossFit, El Pinto, Firehouse Subs, French Funerals, Frontline Coalition, Fully Promoted, Holiday Lanes, Iron Core Electric, Isotopes, Jenell Pagan, MK Consultant, Main Event, Maple Paintbrush, Moody & Sanford Law, My Gym NM, Nusenda Credit Union, Peak Nutrition, Regal Cinema, Renew Med Spa & Cryotherapy, Rio Grande Travel, Rudy’s, Sandia Casino, Sandia Laboratory FCU, Silva Lanes, Spinello DCS, Starbucks, Steelbender, Stixon Labels, The Fitness Superstore, Top Golf, USA Pickleball, Vernon’s, Vintage, Western Crafts, and Zona Rosa.

Thank you to our statewide and year-round sponsors: Albertsons Market, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Centerra, Chavez Grieves Engineering Consultants, Advance Auto Parts, Spyder Ryder of America, Brycon Construction, Old Town Catering Company, Restoration Pizza, and New Mexico True.

On behalf of our New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Committee we would like to congratulate all of our agency coordinators on a remarkable year, and special thanks to our local and state sponsors for helping kick off 2023.

 

New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run Announces Modified State Relay Run to be held May 29

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Law Enforcement Torch Run announces Modified State Relay Run to be held May 29

Albuquerque, New Mexico: Under the guidance of local and state health orders, the New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run (NMLETR) program for Special Olympics announces plans to host a Modified State Relay Run on Friday, May 29.
Despite the cancellation of the Special Olympics New Mexico (SONM) State Summer Games, law enforcement officers in the Albuquerque area will run the torch in stages into the Albuquerque Civic Plaza using social distancing guidelines, all in support of Special Olympics athletes around the state. “This is a remarkable opportunity for law enforcement agencies across the state to execute a modified version of our traditional relay run in support of Special Olympics,” said LETR State Director Ben Sanchez. “It’s important to all of us to keep the LETR State Relay Run tradition alive and to bring hope to Special Olympics athletes during this challenging time they are facing.”
The Modified State Relay Run will consist of a small team of runners (up to five total) plus a support vehicle covering 1-3 miles along assigned routes, independent of other agency routes. Each team member runs alone and symbolically “passes the torch” off at designated and socially distant points. The Modified State Relay Run will end in the Albuquerque Civic Plaza where a designated officer will light the Special Olympics cauldron.
LETR and Special Olympics supporters are encouraged to tune in on Facebook @NMLETR and @SpecialOlympicsNM the morning of May 29 to watch portions of the Modified State Relay Run online. People who would like to support this year’s Modified State Relay Run can text #LETRMiles4Hope to 44321 to donate.
Traditionally, over 60 law enforcement agencies—representing municipal, county, state, and tribal public safety officers—run and bike 1,600 miles across New Mexico culminating at the Special Olympics New Mexico State Summer Games in Albuquerque throughout May, leading up to the SONM State Summer Games. This year on May 29, the Modified State Relay Run will be held across the state as LETR agencies around New Mexico are encouraged to host their own modified relay run.
Agencies that are unable to participate in a modified state relay run have been invited to participate in the following alternative LETR activities over the next two months:
  • Host a Virtual Meet & Greet: Officers inform, educate, engage and inspire local citizens.
  • Visit Athlete Neighborhoods: Officers coordinate with SONM parents/guardians to pass by neighborhoods where athletes reside.
  • Post a workout video or encouragement video: Officers provide short videos of workouts to help keep SONM athletes active. Other officers post videos including words of encouragement for SONM athletes during this time when SONM practices and competitions are cancelled.

Boilerplate:

The New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run is a community-building organization that promotes and empowers New Mexico law enforcement agencies to raise awareness and funds year-round for Special Olympics New Mexico, while providing opportunities, encouragement, and hope to SONM athletes and families in the process. In New Mexico, LETR is proudly presented by Wells Fargo. Additional community partners include: Pic Quik (Las Cruces), Rio Grande Credit Union, Illumination Works LLC, Bosque Brewing Company, Centerra, Brycon Construction, Duke City Gladiators, CARQUEST Auto Parts (statewide) and Penfold Live.

Law Enforcement Torch Run Fundraising Statement

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Greetings LETR officers,

We hope this letter finds you well. Amidst the challenging times we are going through, Special Olympics New Mexico and our Law Enforcement Torch Run program remains resilient and hopeful for better times to come. Our Special Olympics athletes and their families are our top priority and we are doing all that we can to ensure their health and wellness is being preserved during this outbreak.

Cancellation of the Special Olympics New Mexico 2020 State Summer Games

Recently, Special Olympics New Mexico announced that “after careful consideration, we have made additional decisions regarding the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on our organization and community.” In abiding to guidelines from the CDC, the State of New Mexico, and Special Olympics, Inc. (SOI), Special Olympics New Mexico will adhere to the following guidelines through May 31:

  • Cancellation of all sports training (practices).
  • Cancellation of all competitions including area qualifying competitions and State Summer Games.

The Impact on Special Olympics Athletes

For many of our athletes, Special Olympics is either their main source or only source of health, fitness, and social and emotional wellness. Because of the Special Olympics sports training and competition program, they not only benefit from the joy of sport, but from the spirit of competition, and gain dignity from their own personal achievements. Because of Special Olympics Health wellness and education initiatives, athletes can receive free screenings and services that can be more difficult for them to come by outside of Special Olympics. The Unified Champion Schools opportunities foster a level of peer-to-peer, youth connection and inclusion that is unmatched in other educational settings.

How your LETR Agency and local businesses can help

Through Torch Run fundraising, we can continue to ensure that Special Olympics sports training, competition, along with health and educational initiatives, will remain intact for all athletes and their families when times are tough and all other areas are uncertain. As we navigate through the health and community guidelines set by health organizations, our local governments, and Special Olympics to combat the spread of the coronavirus, we ask that you first focus on keeping your health and safety a priority, and second remain hopeful in our fundraising efforts to ensure our Flame of Hope never loses it light for our athletes. At this time we request the cancellation of all agency fundraising activities that involve mass gatherings of more than 10 people, and we encourage you to consider hosting Online Agency Fundraising Campaigns, partnering with local businesses deemed essential by the state of NM, and others who can raise funds using our Torch Icon campaigns. And if you see our athletes either online or out and about, please check in with them. What constitutes as social distancing to us in reality can lead to social isolation for our athletes. We want to keep in constant contact with them as much as possible. We know that despite government mandates leading to temporary business closures and suspended events such as our own State Summer Games, that you as first responders join other frontline leaders in serving our communities. That is why we say thank you. Thank you for living the LETR Oath, which concludes with:

“I will protect, defend, and befriend all those who seek the joy of Special Olympics sport, and I will always be a Guardian of Flame Of Hope.”

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