Howell Special Olympics Torch Run Is Friday At Lakewood Border

HOWELL, NJ — On Friday, Howell officers will be participating in the New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics of New Jersey, the Police Department announced.

Every year, law enforcement officers in New Jersey don running gear as they carry the “Flame of Hope” throughout the Garden State into the Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games Opening Ceremony.

Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games will held at The College of New Jersey from June 9 to June 11.

After traveling more than 750 miles, this flame will eventually make its way to light the cauldron to signal the official start of the Summer Games.

Howell officers participate in this run to support Special Olympians, but also to honor the memory of retired Corporal Harvey Cohen, who died in 2022, the department said.

"Harvey worked tirelessly over his 30-year career to raise donations for the Torch Run and establish Howell Police/PBA 228 as one of the top agencies in the state in fundraising for Special Olympics NJ," the department said.

This is the 40th year of the run in the state.

Officers will be picking up the torch at the Lakewood border on Route 9 and will carry it north, where they will pass it on in Freehold.