Special Olympics Torch Passes Through Fairfield

The Special Olympics torch, headed for opening ceremonies Friday night at Southern Connecticut State University, passed through Fairfield Friday afternoon, with 13 Fairfield Police officers, several Special Olympians and a handful of supporters jogging along the Post Road.

The contingent took a brief break at the Sherman Green, corner of Post and Reef roads in downtown Fairfield, before they were off again, bound for the Bridgeport border where they planned to pass the torch to Bridgeport corrections' officers.

"I run quite regularly. It's just a fun thing to do," Fairfield Police Detective Beth Irizarry said when asked on Sherman Green how the jog had gone so far. "Fundraising and running together is the best. I have a niece with Down Syndrome, so this is close to my heart."

Fairfield Police Officer Mark Letsch said 13 officers from the Fairfield Police Department and an intern in the department participated in the Torch Run this year, which is the most of any year that local police have participated. "It's the biggest turnout in 12 years," Letsch said.

Letsch said nothing beats seeing the faces of Special Olympians as the torch is passed to their group and they head off running for the border of their town. "You see their eyes get wide open when you pass the torch to them. It makes their whole year," he said.

Fairfield Police Officer Kevin Wells said he's run in the Torch Run for the past seven to eight years and also runs regularly, so the cross-town jog isn't difficult. "I think it's a great event for the Special Olympics and to get the officers together," he said.