JACKSON OFFICERS TO RUN FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS

JACKSON -- Police Sgt. Bob Bonney works two jobs these days. When he isn't keeping Jackson's streets safe, he's hawking T-shirts that advertise the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Bonney, along with patrolmen James Humphreys and Ron Hobeck, will run in Sullivan on May 18 to benefit the Missouri Special Olympics. In the meantime, Bonney wants to sell as many T-shirts advertising the run as he can. Ameritech financed the shirts, so all of the $10 price tag goes to Special Olympics.

Chief Marvin Sides promised a free breakfast to the three after they sold 200 shirts. They've sold 274, more that 100 more than last year, which was their first year of participation. The statewide goal is 10,000 shirts.

It wasn't tough to get participants this year from the Jackson Police Department.

"It was strictly voluntary," Bonney said. "There was a note on the bulletin board asking if anyone wanted to do it. We're having to get days off switched or trade in comp time to run in this."

Bonney and Hobeck will run a mile each and Humphreys, who has been training for about a year, will run three. Humphreys said he liked to run and looked forward to meeting people from all the other law enforcement agencies, but went easy on the number of miles promised. Carrying a heavy metal torch will make a difference.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run begins May 16 in Bolivar and will end May 18 in Fort Leonard Wood, the site of the 20th annual Special Olympics Summer Games.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training for 22,000 children and adults with mental disabilities in Missouri.

Besides benefiting the Special Olympics, the annual torch run allows law enforcement people to have positive relations with the public.

A limitless number of T-shirts are still available. Interested persons can call Bonney at (314) 243-3151.