Town officials on Wednesday night approved a road closure downtown to bring attention to a unique local effort led by the New Canaan Police Department.
The Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, scheduled for Friday, June 6, “is a great event that’s gone on for a long time to unify law enforcement officers from all over the country with Special Olympics athletes, and it’s a huge fundraiser for Special Olympics, especially in Connecticut,” according to NCPD Officer Kelly Coughlin.
Led by Officer Kellly Coughlin (center), New Canaan Police Department participates in the 2024 Law Enforcement Torch Run, a Special Olympics fundraiser. May 31, 2024. Credit: Michael Dinan
Addressing members of the Police Commission at their regular meeting, Coughlin said, “The Law Enforcement Torch Run involves police officers carrying a literal torch to kick off their Summer Olympics event games, and it’s carried throughout the whole state of Connecticut. We’ve been fortunate the last two years to be able to run through New Canaan with the torch and we will be doing so again this year.”
New Canaan’s leg of the Torch Run starts at the “Pop Up Park” at South Avenue between Elm Street and Morse Court, and runs down South Avenue into neighboring Darien.
A longtime supporter of the Special Olympics, Coughlin has arranged for NCPD to participate in the Torch Run in recent years. Launched in 1981 in support the Special Olympics cause by carrying the “Flame of Hope,” the Torch Run happens through communities in every state annually. Each year, nearly 100,000 law enforcement officers participate, passing the torch off from town to town. More than $600 million has been raised for Special Olympics programs nationally since its inception.
NCPD in the past joined up with Darien Police to participate in a leg of the Torch Run that covers various towns along Route 1. In 2023, New Canaan Police was able to host a portion of the run here in town due to the department’s level of involvement in Special Olympics activities and successful fundraising efforts.
Police Commissioners Shekaiba Bennett, Paul Foley and Jim McLaughlin voted 3-0 in favor of the road Pop-Up Park closure for the Law Enforcement Torch Run on June 6 (specific time to be determined—in 2024 it was 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
During the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference, Coughlin said, “I would love to be able to do the same kind of kickoff event that we had last year to draw awareness, do a little bit of fundraising and have people in the community be able to see part of the run from downtown.”
Foley thanked Coughlin for her leadership in organizing the Torch Run locally.
“I really appreciate it, Kelly,” he said.
Foley said the Pop-Up Park area “is a great meeting point that everybody in town seems to recognize as a sort of a central area to meet in.”