And although the torch burnt out midway through the trek, the fire within those officers seemed to burn bright.
In shifts, Covington Police Department officers and State Police Troop L troopers started jogging on U.S. Highway 190 by Winn Dixie, snaking through Holiday Boulevard and continuing south on U.S. 190 toward Troop L headquarters near Fairway Drive.
 Special Olympic competitors Joshua Meyers, Giselle Trapani, and Stephanie Assaf clutch the torch at State Police Troop L headquarters near Mandeville after roughly 40 law enforcement officers carried the torch on a 12-mile trek signaling the tournament'€™s largest event this weekend in Hammond. The torch run, starting on U.S. Highway 190 near Winn Dixie, east of Covington High School, ended at Troop L. |
In the end about 10 state troopers in sweaty T-shirts gathered at Troop L headquarters, some bending over to catch breath, others patting coworkers on the shoulders.
The goal was to raise awareness for this weekend’s Special Olympics at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond. More than 1,500 athletes and 1,500 volunteers are expected to attend the event starting with opening ceremonies Friday night, Tiffany King, director of special projects for Special Olympics said.
Although the Special Olympics hosts five major events statewide yearly, this weekend’s event is by far the largest, King said.
“We’re trying to get the word out about Special Olympics in St. Tammany,” said Liz Gary, a supporter whose is working to publicize the event. “Not many people seem to know about it.”
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