Law enforcement light the way for Special Olympics

Traffic slowed along U.S. 41 Friday morning as commuters caught a glimpse of the 33rd annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

Officers with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and Sarasota Police Department volunteered to relay the Special Olympics torch across town.

The run began on U.S.41 at Gulf Gate Pavilion with runners representing SCSO holding the torch. At Paradise Plaze on Bee Ridge Road the torch was passed to SPD runners where they continued until Five Points Park in Downtown Sarasota.  

Sarasota Police Sgt. Mark Optiz has coordinated the run for 20 years and received the torch at the halfway point this morning. 

“It’s a neat forum to show we support such a worthy cause with the Special Olympics,” Opitz said. 

The run marked the final one for Optiz who will retire this year from the Sarasota Police Department. He says he may return to run alongside everyone next year. 

SWAT officer Ben Smith ran the distance from Gulf Gate Pavilion to the Paradise Plaza on Bee Ridge Road with his three-year-old daughter with Down syndrome Bryleigh Smith in a stroller. 

They led the group alongside Joseph Scibelli who carried the torch to the relay point at Paradise Plaza on Bee Ridge Road. Bryleigh clapped as they crossed the finish line and passed the torch to the Sarasota Police Department team. As Smith and the rest of the runners caught their breath, he gave some words of encouragement to her. 

“Maybe when you get older you can hold the torch,” Smith said.