History
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® was conceived by Richard LaMunyon, the chief of police in Wichita, Kansas, USA, who was looking for a way to engage his officers in a community service project. He learned about Special Olympics, an organization that provides year-round sports training and competitions for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and decided to organize a run to raise funds and awareness for the cause.
The inaugural Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics marked a significant moment on June 5, 1981. This event was held in conjunction with the Kansas Special Olympics Summer Games in Wichita, Kansas. The six original Torch Runners were Robert G. Bachman, Don “Barney” Ipsen, Walt Kuykendall, Jack Leon, Jan McCloud, and Kirk Miles, who all ran with the endorsement and backing of Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon. The torch run was met with resounding success, prompting LaMunyon to promote the concept to other law enforcement bodies within the state and beyond.
The Torch Run quickly garnered enthusiasm from police and Special Olympics leaders. In 1983, it earned backing from the International Association of Chiefs of Police as its founding law enforcement body. The first LETR Conference took place in 1983 in Kansas with representatives from 11 states. The program saw major expansion in 1986—42 additional U.S. programs joined—and by 1987 it had spread to Canada and Jamaica. By 1990, the movement touched every U.S. state, and several European and Caribbean countries. The reach extended further to China and several African nations by 2000.
The Torch Run expanded beyond just running, with law enforcement officers organizing events like polar plunges, golf tournaments, and auctions to support Special Olympics. In 2022, the LETR celebrated raising more than one billion U.S. dollars for Special Olympics programs globally, fostering bonds between officers and Special Olympics athletes and supporters.
