Thank you to all the Law Enforcement officers supporting our mission and keeping us safe!

Special Olympics New Jersey is grateful for the thousands of law enforcement personnel from all over New Jersey who support our mission through the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR). While dedicated to increasing public awareness for our program, they are also committed to raising funds for our athletes so that we can offer our programs free of charge.

The level of commitment our law enforcement community has made to our athletes can never be measured, but the statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey has been recognized around the world for many years as one of the top grassroots fundraising organizations for Special Olympics. Through year-round fundraising events, the LETR has raised more than $3 million annually, hitting a record high of $4.1 million in 2018!

In addition to fundraising, the Law Enforcement officers volunteer at athlete competitions and events year-round, serving as our ambassadors in local communities.

Special Events

Our Law Enforcement Torch Run community is dedicated to fundraising all year long through local fundraising events in addition to special events such as the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5K, the Plane Pull presented by United Airlines, and the Adopt-a-Cop campaign. However, none are more well known than our Polar Bear Plunges and the Annual Torch Run.

Polar Bear Plunges

Polar Bear Plunge

Every year, thousands of people jump into the icy Atlantic Ocean in the middle of winter. Despite the cold, our Polar Bear Plunges continue to grow in popularity. Over 8,000 participants raised more than $2.89 million in 2023.

Annual Torch Run

The Annual Torch Run is the heart of the Law Enforcement Torch Run movement. Each year, thousands of officers take to the streets of their local communities on 1 of 26 separate routes to help carry the “Flame of Hope” to the Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. 2023 commemorates 40 years of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

Yearbooks

Law Enforcement Torch Run Leadership

The 47 dedicated members of the State Committee are what drive the continued reach and success of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey.

Chairmen


Chief Robert Belfiore, Director
Port Authority Police Department, Retired

Capt. Robert T. MacFarlane, Executive Deputy Director
William Paterson University Police, Retired

Lt. Lou Hannon, Deputy Director – South
Camden Police Department, Retired

Det. Larry Mays, Deputy Director – Central
Port Authority Police Department, Retired

Capt. James Sepp, Deputy Director – North
Bogota Police Department, Retired

Jason Schubert, Senior Director LETR Initiatives
Special Olympics New Jersey

State Committee


PO Frank Aresta
Port Authority PD

Joe Bardi, Patrolman
William Paterson University PD

Sgt. Chip Bartkowski
Ewing PD, Retired

Mariann Baumbach
PO Port Authority PD, Retired

PO Brian Belfiore
Port Authority PD

Phillip Bellomo
Det. Lt. Paramus PD, Retired

S/Capt. Garth Brown
Ridgefield PD, Retired

Kevin Burke
Maj, NJ State Police, Retired

James Caulfield, Detective
Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

Lisa Cawley, Lt.
State of NJ Division of Criminal Justice, Retired

Harvey Cohen
Cpl. Howell PD, Retired

Cpl. Lisa DeLena
Warren County Sheriff’s Office

Bob Driscoll
Det. Lt. Port Authority PD, Retired

Gary Evangelista
Sgt. Camden PD, Retired

Mike Failace
Sgt. Lyndhurst PD, Retired

Robert Flanigan
Det., Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Retired

Carlos Goyenechea, Captain
Secaucus PD

PO Meg Hammond
Raritan Twp PD

Beth Kraus
Lt. NJ Dept. of Corrections, Retired

Kevin C. Lyons, Sr.
Det. Long Beach Twp PD, Retired

Frank Mackey
Det. Wayne PD, Retired

Chief Joe Madden – Park Ridge PD

Bruce Mathews
Chief Ranger 1 NJ St. Rangers, Retired

Lt. Pete Mauro
Park Ridge PD

Ms. Lauren Abramson McGuire

John McHugh
Wakefern/ShopRite Corporation

James McKeever
PO Port Authority PD, Retired

Ken Miscia, Jr.
Capt. Montclair PD, Retired

Lt. Chris Neder
Middlesex Co. Sheriff’s Office

Michael Podolak
Det. Lt. Port Authority PD, Retired

Anthony Pulizzano, Patrolman
Upper Saddle River PD

PO Matthew Reeves
Camden PD, Retired

Joe Sarnoski
Capt. Lyndhurst PD, Retired

Det. Todd Smith
Freehold Twp. PD, Retired

Trng. Offcr. Tracey Tift
Monmouth County Sheriff’s Offc.

CBPO Allan Tittermary
US Customs & Border Protection

Glenn Toepert
Capt. Saddle Brook PD, Retired

Vito Vacirca, Detective
Mercer County Sheriff’s Office

PO John Verney
Port Authority PD

Christopher Wagner
Lt. NJ State Police, Retired

Mr. Thomas Zapf
VP Government & Public Affairs

Bill Zika
Lt. Port Authority PD, Retired

Law Enforcement Torch Run Partners

The following generous partners have made a financial and focused commitment to events hosted by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey.

Contact Us

For information on how to get your local law enforcement community involved, contact us at letr@sonj.org.