For Immediate Release

Friday, Oct. 11, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Acton Police Detective Attends Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Conference for Special Olympics

ACTON — Chief Richard Burrows is pleased to announce that Det. Jon Stackhouse attended the 2019 Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Conference for Special Olympics in September.

The conference took place Sept. 18-21 in Aurora, Colorado. Over 1,200 officers were in attendance from around the world, including 16 officers from Massachusetts.

While at the conference, attendees went to an opening session each morning, heard from and met Special Olympics athletes and their families, received awards for fundraising efforts and attended breakout sessions. The sessions offered attendees the opportunity to learn about topics such as the history of the LETR and Special Olympics organizations, how to interact with residents with special needs, creative ways to raise money for the organization and how to host a Torch Run event.

Det. Stackhouse was also selected to be a Guardian of the Flame Miners Lamp Escort. Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the Miners Lamp, which holds the “Flame of Hope,” into Opening Ceremonies of local competitions. The Flame is meant to be symbolic of the law enforcement profession which represents everything that is principled, fair and
decent. The Flame also represents a vision, the future and hope for the athletes and their families.

Throughout the year, departments around the world raise money for Special Olympics through the LETR campaign. Acton Police have organized fundraising activities such as hosting Tip-A-Cop events at local restaurants, participating in a Boston-area cruiser convoy and taking part in an annual Polar Plunge. More than $650,000 was raised by Massachusetts law enforcement departments for the LETR campaign in 2018.

The LETR campaign has raised over $700 million for Special Olympics since it began in 1981. All of the funds raised go to Special Olympics so the athletes don’t have to pay for uniforms or supplies to participate in sports.

“It was an honor for me to attend the conference and be one of the officers who represented our state,” Det. Stackhouse said. “It was moving to hear from the athletes and their families about how this organization makes a difference, and to see how what we’re doing on a local level is also being done on an international level. It makes us very happy to see how we are making an impact on the athletes’ lives and it encourages those of us who attend to go back to our towns and strive to do more.”

“Special Olympics is a wonderful cause and we were happy to be able to send Det. Stackhouse to this conference,” Chief Burrows said. “We are proud to support the Law Enforcement Torch Run campaign and look forward to continuing to contribute to the organization through various fundraising activities.”

About Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics:

The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is to raise funds for and awareness of the Special Olympics movement worldwide. The LETR for Special Olympics engages law enforcement worldwide championing acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, starting first with their own communities. Over the years the Torch Run has evolved and now encompasses a variety of innovative fundraising platforms to include Plane Pulls, Polar Plunges, Tip-A-Cops, and more. Learn more about LETR.

Learn about the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Torch Run Program.

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