Ripon Police will be carrying the torch for the Northern California Special Olympics Saturday as part of a 19.5 mile run from downtown Ripon to the Deuel Vocational Institute prison in Tracy beginning at 7:30 a.m.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a relay event. The torch will be handed off to DVI correctional officers who will in turn have a team run to the Tracy Police Department with their officers continuing to Livermore Police and on until it finally reaches the Special Olympics venue at the University of California at Davis.
The Ripon team will gather in front of the Ripon Consolidated Fire Department on Stockton Avenue Saturday morning with eight runners.
Team captain is Sgt. Steve Meece.  Team members include Police Chief Ed Ormonde, officers Erik Boder and Kristen Garcia along with dispatchers Cynthia Hordenbrook, Monica Beaubette, Celeste Wilson, lead dispatcher. Marissa Navarro is joining the officers and officer Kristen Garcia.
 Meece said the torch will be exchanged between his runners during the run.
Each year law enforcement personnel throughout Northern California carry the “flame of hope” on its way to the Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games opening ceremony at.
The Northern California Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics in the north state.  The torch will light the caldron signaling the opening of the games where over 900 Special Olympic athletes will compete in aquatics, bocce, tennis or track and field events.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.