Laurel police join Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland
Laurel officers will carry the Flame of Hope from the DiPietro Center on June 4, linking a local run to a fundraiser that raised $3.5 million statewide in 2019.
Laurel police will run a leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland on June 4, turning a city event into a public display of support that also doubles as community outreach. The route begins at the DiPietro Center and continues through Laurel as officers carry the Flame of Hope toward the next leg of the journey. Residents are being encouraged to line the route and cheer them on.
Special Olympics Maryland calls the Law Enforcement Torch Run its largest fundraising partner, and the numbers show why the event matters well beyond the miles logged by police. In 2019, the Torch Run and related efforts, including T-shirt sales, Cops on Rooftops, Police Plunge and other events, raised $3.5 million statewide. For Laurel, the run ties local visibility to a broader fundraising network that supports athletes across Maryland.
The city of Laurel says officers traditionally run the stretch from Hyattsville to Laurel, carrying the Flame of Hope on the way to the Special Olympic Games. That tradition gives the event a distinctly local footprint, connecting two Prince George’s County communities while putting uniformed officers in a public setting that is built around accessibility and trust rather than enforcement.
The timing also links Laurel’s contribution to one of Special Olympics Maryland’s signature annual moments. Special Olympics Maryland says the Torch Run culminates with the Summer Games opening ceremony, where the Flame of Hope is part of the celebration. The organization’s 2024 Summer Games were held June 21-23 at Towson University, and the 2026 Summer Games are scheduled for June 12-14.
Laurel’s city events calendar lists the Laurel Police Department Torch Run as a scheduled community event, underscoring how the department uses the run as part of its broader community policing and engagement efforts. In a county where residents pay close attention to how public agencies show up in neighborhoods, the Torch Run offers a visible example of police outreach tied to a measurable cause: fundraising that directly supports Special Olympics Maryland athletes and the games that bring that work into public view.
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