Bowie Law Enforcement Gathers For First Torch Run Since 2019

BOWIE, MD — After taking a year off because of COVID-19 precautions, athletes, residents, and members of the Bowie Police Department gathered Wednesday morning to support the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics.

The annual 5K run was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, so this year’s event was the first time the community came together for the Torch Run since 2019.

About 50 people assembled at 10 a.m. in the Bowie Plaza before Bowie Police Chief John K. Nesky kicked off the event. Nesky began by thanking everyone who came out to support and emphasizing the importance of Wednesday’s run: the athletes.

“It’s all about the athletes.” Nesky said, “It's great seeing them in person, having the comradery. We start to build relationships with these athletes and they're an inspiration to us because of just the way they live their lives, the absolute joy they live their lives with and the determination.”

Ellen Fineran, head coach of Prince George’s County Track and Field for the Special Olympics, brought two of her athletes to participate in the event. As a Special Olympics volunteer for the past 26 years, Fineran said her favorite part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run is seeing the joy in the athletes’ faces.

Fineran said, “The smiles on their faces, that’s the best part, to see them start getting back into it again.”

Members of the Bowie community were joined by James Schmutz, president and CEO of Special Olympics Maryland, Inc., as he showed his appreciation for those who came out for Wednesday’s run. Schmutz said events like the Law Enforcement Torch Run not only support their athletes, but help raise awareness about the Special Olympics.

“It’s all to support 6,102 athletes and our goal to grow.” Schmutz said. “Since the pandemic, we dropped from 8,716 athletes. We want to get back up there, but our goal is to get to 20,000 athletes by 2025 and law enforcement is playing an exceptional role in generating awareness and raising funds to help us do that.”

The group of runners concluded their run at the Chick-fil-A parking lot at Bowie Marketplace within an hour of their start. Each participant donated $15 that will go directly to the Special Olympics Maryland organization.

If you would like to support Special Olympics Maryland, please visit its website.