The Union City and West New York police departments participated in the 18th annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run held throughout the state on June 1. The run allowed police departments in various towns to hand off a torch to each other, with it eventually ending up in Trenton. The officers raised thousands of dollars for people with disabilities through the event.
The Union City Police Department took the torch from the West New York Police Department at 48th Street and Bergenline Avenue and continued to Fifth Street and Kennedy Boulevard, where they handed the torch to a police officer from Jersey City.
The final leg of the run ended at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2001 Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games in Trenton. The Olympic trials were held at the College of New Jersey throughout last weekend. Retired Union City Sgt. John Sharkey attended the opening ceremonies at the college.
A torch run is held each year in every state in the United States and in 25 countries around the world.
The Union City side
A group called Law Enforcement for Special Olympics New Jersey had raised $1,317,210 this year before the torch run, and to date has raised more than $7 million. This money helped Special Olympics New Jersey conduct 140 competitive events in 400 communities for 13,000 athletes this year.
Union City’s police department has donated a large chunk of that money. Det. Edward McGuire, the Special Olympics coordinator for the city, said that the department raised more than $100,000 for the event since he became the coordinator six years ago.
The 71 Union City officers who signed up to run the 2.5 miles from West New York to Jersey City in this year’s event raised more than $15,000 this year and were, again, named a premiere sponsor.
“I have three healthy kids so I figure I can give something back,” said McGuire, who has three daughters age 18,17 and 7 and does most of the fundraising himself.
The Union City Police Department also takes part in the Plane Pull in October, the Polar Plunge in February, and it volunteers at the Hudson and Bergen County swim meet at the Bruce D. Walter Recreation Center in April.
In West New York
West New York Deputy Chief Thomas O’Donnell was one of the two officers from his department that took part in the event this year. Captain John Santa Maria was the other officer. Both have represented their town in the one-mile torch run for the past 16 years.
“This gives us an incentive to keep in shape the rest of the year,” said O’Donnell. “As I am getting a little older, it is a little tougher to do.”
The Patrolman’s Benevolent Association and the Police Superiors Association donated $100 per runner in the town, and local businesses and organizations sponsored the event as well.
The town’s police department participates in many other charitable events throughout the year, especially during Christmastime. They work with the Salvation Army to provide gifts for needy children, and sponsor local little league baseball teams and grammar school walk-a-thons.