By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Henry County law enforcement officers will be running from Paris to McKenzie Friday morning as part of the 2021 Special Olympics Torch Run.
Organizer Paris Police Chief Ricky Watson said as of Thursday morning, some 17 officers have signed on for the relay run, which will begin at 8 a.m. at Paris City Hall.
Watson told RadioNWTN, “So far we have eight or nine from the Paris Police Department, one from the Fire Department, four or five from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, one from the City Hall front office and one from Paris Parks and Rec. There may be more sign on throughout the rest of the day.”
Beginning at City Hall, the runners will move to Veterans’ Drive and then onto Hwy. 79N and on to McKenzie.
“Law enforcement is running all across Tennessee,” Watson said. “There’s a group that is starting really early in the morning and running from Dover to Paris. We’re in charge of the Paris-McKenzie leg of the Torch Run.”
Since it’s a relay, none of the runners will be responsible for running the entire route from Paris to McKenzie, he said. “Some will be running one mile, some running two miles and they’ll take turns.”
Multiple support vehicles will travel in front and behind the runners and will give the runners respite from the heat, cold water and snacks as needed.
In 1986 the IACP conference was held in Nashville, Tennessee. During the conference then Metro Police Chief, Joe Casey, initiated the Tennessee Law Enforcement Torch Run. In 1995 Chief Turner appointed Captain Ron Hooper to oversee the Metro Police Department’s involvement with the Torch Run.
Photo: Special Olympics Torch Relay in Nashville. Special Olympics photo.