Special Olympics Torch Run Leaves Danville Tuesday Morning

On Tuesday morning, 10 Danville Police Officers will escort the Special Olympics torch from Danville to Walnut Creek.

This leg of the Torch Run is just one portion of the event that, when completed, will see more than 3,500 law enforcement personnel from federal, military, state, county, and local agencies participate.

It's part of a yearlong fundraiser that will end on the opening day of the Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games on June 22 on the UC Davis Campus. More than 15,700 athletes will compete in 154 competitions over the course of the three-day event.

Danville Police Chief Steve Simpkins says his force takes pride in supporting the Special Olympics. Last year, he said, the department raised $22,116 for the event through the torch run, the polar plunge, and tip-a-cop fundraisers.

"We're proud to support the Special Olympics," he said.

The torch will leave the Danville Police Department at 8 a.m. The officers will pass it to the Walnut Creek Police at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek. Those officers will run the torch to Kohl's in Pleasant hill, where it will be passed on to Pleasant Hill and Concord officers. The Torch will then continue its journey toward Solano County.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated the torch would be leaving the Danville Police Department at 8:30 a.m. That is an error. It will be leaving at 8 a.m. This version corrects that error.