Law enforcement to carry Special Olympics torch through county today, tomorrow

Posted: 6:32 am, July 16, 2015 by Skye Pratt

San Luis Obispo Police Lieutenant Bill Proll.

– Law enforcement officers hand-selected from all over the world, including one from the Central Coast, will take part in the law enforcement torch run final leg for Special Olympics.

Part of that Torch Run will come through San Luis Obispo County on Thursday and Friday.

Thirty officers, including San Luis Obispo Police Lieutenant, Bill Proll along with three Special Olympians will be carrying the “Flame of Hope” as they make their way through the county escorted by members of the Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol. The law enforcement members will be running 10 – 12 miles a day for 16 days, according to Proll.

Schedule:
Thursday, July 16. Approximately 4:30 p.m. The Sheriff’s Office’s Dodge Viper will meet the torchbearers at the Monterey-San Luis Obispo County Line at Highway 101 to serve as the lead escort through the county.

Thursday, July 16. 6:35 p.m. 1000 block of Chorro Street. Ceremony at San Luis Obispo Farmer’s Market as the runners arrive.

Friday, July 17. 8:05 a.m. Ceremony at Camp San Luis Obispo (please be prepared to show your license, registration, and insurance at the front gate) as the runners arrive.

Friday, July 17. 10 a.m. Ceremony on the Pismo Beach Pier as the runners arrive.

The torch runners will finish in Los Angeles to open the 2015 Special Olympics World Games at the LA Coliseum. More than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries will take part in the Special Olympics World Games July 25 – August 2.

Proll has a fundraising page through the Special Olympics organization. At the time of this article, he was $9,935 towards his $10,000 fundraising goal. “With your donation, we can enrich the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities and their communities through sports, education, and athlete health,” reads his personal statement on the fundraising page. “The money that is raised through this website will benefit the over 700 Special Olympic San Luis Obispo County athletes. It will provide equipment, uniforms, and training for our athletes, but also give them empowerment, joy, and improved health.”