Officers run with Special Olympian to raise money, awareness

Patrolman Ty Metzger of the Cape Girardeau Police Department always joins his colleagues for the Special Olympics Torch Run, but this year, the run was personal.

Metzger's 10-year-old son, Gabe, participated in his first Special Olympics in the spring.

"That's pretty fun for him, because, you know, a lot of these children like this aren't able to participate very well in group sports," Metzger said after the 5-kilometer run Wednesday morning.

Gabe, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 2, joined his dad for the last few blocks -- the first time a Special Olympian has run with the officers, Metzger said.

Police across the country participate in the annual torch run to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics, said Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Jogging isn't Hickey's favorite activity, but Gabe's participation inspired him, he said.

"He did really well. He seemed really excited about doing it, which kind of helps as you're dragging along right at the end," Hickey said. "You see him running in front of you, and you realize why you're out there and what a worthy cause, what these funds are going for."

Gabe is the only boy in a set of triplets. He also has a 6-year-old sister.

The girls, Metzger said, are "like mother hens. That's the only way to do it. They look out for him."

That doesn't mean Gabe gets a free pass to kick back and let somebody else take care of him, however, Metzger said.

"We don't want him to get used to people waiting on him hand and foot. ... We push his limits," he said. "We do. You have to."

Metzger has had to push himself, too.

"It's something I've had to develop a different style of patience for," he said.

Children with special needs sometimes require adults to adjust their approach, Metzger said.

"He can learn just like any other child; you just have to apply different methods," he said. "It's their world. We're just living in it."

Special Olympics gives Gabe a chance to enjoy athletic competition -- in April, he competed in swimming, track and field, softball throw and standing jump events -- while spending time with people who understand his challenges, Metzger said.

"He gets excitement. He gets to socialize with people who understand different social behaviors, different social issues," he said. " ... He's around people that have a lot of sensitivity to these issues, to these problems."

He also gets a sense of accomplishment.

"I win!" Gabe said, bubbling over with enthusiasm about a new Mario Kart game he had earned as a special prize.

New video games aren't all Gabe has won.

"He gets all his medals that he gets really proud of," Metzger said, and at school, a special bulletin board showcases the young athlete's Special Olympics achievements.

Supporting Special Olympics is a law enforcement tradition, Hickey said, but Gabe and other children give Cape Girardeau officers a personal connection to the cause.

"We have several officers here that have special-needs children, which makes it even more special for us," he said.

Seventeen runners participated Wednesday morning, including Gabe, several Cape Girardeau police officers, a state trooper, a Perry County deputy and an FBI agent, Hickey said.

Some of the officers had just finished shifts, and some were heading to work after running 3.1 miles on a sticky morning, Hickey said.

The run began at Southern Expressway and ended at Velosity Electronics, 500 N. Kingshighway -- a shorter distance than in previous years, but a more conspicuous stopping point, Hickey said.

Store employees set up a table and cheered the runners on as they arrived en masse, the Metzgers leading the way with the torch.

Velosity is selling commemorative T-shirts for $10 each to raise money for Special Olympics.

Ryan Frenz, co-owner of Velosity Electronics, said customers who buy a T-shirt can get $10 off any computer repair.

If the store runs out of shirts, supporters can contact Cpl. Joey Hann at the Cape Girardeau Police Department to buy a shirt or make a donation, Hickey said.

"He really plays an integral part in getting this organized," Hickey said of Hann.

Cape Girardeau wasn't the only department running Wednesday. The Sikeston, Missouri, Department of Public Safety had its Torch Run a couple of hours after Cape Girardeau's ended.

"Law enforcement in general across the country is huge supporters of Special Olympics, and there's torch runs going on around the country," Hickey said.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

500 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.