Los Alamos Deputy Police Chief Oliver Morris, seen here at this year’s local Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, is headed to Florida Sunday to participate in a portion the Final Leg of the run ending up in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos Deputy Police Chief Oliver Morris leaves Sunday to join law enforcement officers from 49 states and the Caribbean for the Special Olympics USA Games Torch run “Final Leg” to Orlando, Florida. Morris was selected by Special Olympics New Mexico to represent the state as one of the law enforcement “Guardians of the Flame” who will carry the Special Olympics Torch and the “Flame of Hope” to the open ceremonies for the event.

The Final Leg is a salute to Special Olympics athletes from throughout the country and represents the culmination of Law Enforcement Torch Runs everywhere including Los Alamos. Just last week, the Los Alamos Police Department held its own annual torch run to Buffalo Thunder Resort in Pojoaque. This year’s destination was changed from Jemez Springs due to the Cerro Pelado Fire.

“After 18 years of being involved in the torch run, to be able to do the Final Leg I’m really honored and excited. I was supposed to go to Chicago a couple of years ago but the event was canceled due to COVID,” Morris said.

The part of the Final Leg that Morris’s group will run is 234 miles but that will be broken up between the runners. There will be different events throughout each day in communities along the way. Morris has been tapped to speak at one of the events and is taking New Mexico themed gifts for the local police department. The events are to promote Special Olympics. Morris’s event is at a large manufacturing company.

“It will be fun. I have been running and getting ready,” he said.

“We’re very proud of Oliver for representing the State of New Mexico and the Los Alamos Police Department in the 2022 Special Olympics USA National Games Final Leg,” LAPD Chief Dino Sgambellone told the Reporter Friday afternoon. “Oliver has been the agency Special Olympics coordinator for nearly two decades.  He continues to set the example for community service and the committee could not have selected a better representative.”

Donations to NM Special Olympics for the LAPD Law Enforcement Torch Run are still be accepted. Email oliver.morris@lacnm.us for more information.