Local police officers are making their presence known at local highways in force this week -- but not to hand out tickets.
About 100 officers from Hamilton, Clermont, Butler and Warren counties are participating in the Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run, designed to both kick off the state's summer games and raise money for Special Olympics.
"We should raise about $150,000 this year," said Detective Ed Buns of the Hamilton Police Department. "We ask each officer (who runs) to try to get $25 in donations, and we also ask other officers to go to local businesses and foundations.
"Fund raising is pretty much a year-round thing."
Officers, Special Olympians, staff and others held a brief ceremony at the Cincinnati Police Memorial before beginning the run Wednesday morning.
The torch run will end Friday on the campus of Columbus' Ohio State University and the Ohio Special Olympics Summer Games will begin.
Officers run in packs. Wednesday's high temperatures meant the officers would need plenty of fluids.
"We always end up with the hottest, most humid day of the year," joked Sgt. Tom Waller of the Cincinnati Police Division.
Simultaneous torch runs began Wednesday in Toledo, Cleveland, Ashtabula, Cambridge and Marietta. About 700 officers will participate in the different Ohio runs, Det. Buns said.
The first Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics took place in Wichita, Kan., in 1981. It is now conducted in all states and 37 other countries.
