Law Enforcement Torch Run^®
Historical Milestones

1981
History is made as the first Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is held in Wichita, Kansas. The original Torch Run takes place with the authorization and support of Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon. The original six Torch Runners are: Robert G. Bachman, Don Ipsen, Walt Kuykendall, Jack Leon, Jan McCloud and Kirk Miles.

1986
Wisconsin joins the Law Enforcement Torch Run® movement along with 42 other U.S. states by holding its first Final Leg in conjunction with the State Summer Games. Dale Brunner, Milwaukee Police Department serves as the first State Torch Run Director through 1999.

July 17-20, 1991
The Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 1991 Special Olympics World Summer Games take place in and around Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota.

February 1992
Officer Dale Brunner, Wisconsin’s first Torch Run Director, is one of 11 original inductees into the International Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame at the 8th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run conference held in Tampa, Florida.

March 1993
The Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 1993 Special Olympics World Winter Games take place in Salzburg and Schladming, Austria. The Final Leg starts in Trieste, Italy and covers 1,200 miles before reach Schladming.

June 24 – July 2, 1995
Lieutenant Jeffrey Hardel, Wausau Police Department, represents Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The Flame of Hope™ was greeted by the Final Leg team on Ellis Island and was run through New York City before heading to New Haven, Connecticut.

November 1995
Wisconsin hosts the 12th annual International Law Enforcement Torch Run® conference in Milwaukee, as “Harley Night” sets the new standard for entertainment at a Torch Run Conference.

December 1996
Dennis Alldridge, President of Special Olympics Wisconsin, is inducted into the International Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame at the 13th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run conference held in Oakbrook, Illinois.

January 27 – February 3, 1997
Robert Gottowski, Sheboygan Police Department, represents Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 1997 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Toronto and Collingwood, Ontario.

November 1997
The Torch Run Executive Council expands to include Regional Coordinators, as well as appointees from Special Olympics, Inc., IACP and the traditional at-large representatives. Lieutenant Jeffrey Hardel represents Wisconsin as the Region 5 Coordinator through November of 2003.

1998
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® raises $423,000 statewide, with 550 registered law enforcement participating.

1998
Greg Maccoux serves as the first Special Olympics athlete representative on the State LETR Committee through 2003.

1999
John Boyer, Oneida County Sheriff’s Department becomes the second State Torch Run Director, serving through 2005.

March 1999
Wisconsin hosts its very first Polar Plunge® fundraising event at Lake Onalaska with 315 Plungers and raised more than $30,000. After attending the Law Enforcement Torch Run® International Conference in Anchorage, Alaska in November of 1998, Wisconsin law enforcement and staff attendees participated and/or observed their first Polar Plunge event and brought the event back to Wisconsin!

June 1999
The Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run® Dale Brunner Hall of Fame Award is created to recognize outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed to the statewide success of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin. The Onalaska Police Department & Chief Randy Williams are the first inductees into the Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

June 17-28, 1999
Detective Robert Obermeier, Wausau Police Department, represents Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Final Leg starts at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and travels through Virginia to North Carolina.

November 1999
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® raises over $343,000 statewide, with 553 registered law enforcement participating.

November 1999
Peggy Berg, Director of Development, is inducted into the International Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame at the 16th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run conference held in St. Louis, Missouri.

2000
Wausau, Eau Claire, Madison and Pleasant Prairie joined the Coulee Region for a total of five Polar Plunges with 1,500 plungers, raising more than $160,000.

June 2000
Doug Rosemeyer (presented posthumously) is inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

October 2000
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® raises nearly $478,000 statewide, with 790 registered law enforcement participating.

2001
Oshkosh, Green Bay and Muskego joined the fun for a total of eight Polar Plunges held across the state with 3,000 plungers, 12,350 spectators and raised nearly $422,000.

February 27 – March 5, 2001
Michael Lunz, Special Olympics Wisconsin athlete and Lieutenant Jason Plaza, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, represent Wisconsin in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska. For the first time, the Final Leg team includes ten Special Olympics athletes.

June 2001
John Charewicz, Portage County Sheriffs Department, and James Briggs, Marinette County Sheriffs Department, are inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

November 2001
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® raises over $710,000 statewide, with 900 registered law enforcement participating.

November 2001
Jason Plaza of Wisconsin is presented with the John Carion Memorial “Unsung Hero” Award at the International Law Enforcement Torch Run annual conference.

2002
A total of eight Polar Plunges were held across the state with nearly 3,700 plungers and 20,000 spectators, raising more than $609,000.

June 2002
John Boyer, Oneida County Sheriffs Department, and Jason Plaza, Marathon County Sheriffs Department, are inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

November 2002
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin raises more than $1 million in one year for the athletes, with 933 registered law enforcement participating. Wisconsin receives award for the 7th largest program in the world.

2003
Eight Polar Plunges were held across the state with nearly 4,800 plungers, 20,000 spectators, and raised more than $804,000.

2003
Renee Cappetto begins term as the second Special Olympics athlete representative on the State LETR Committee through 2006.

June 2003
Andrew Garcia, Retired, Madison Police Department is inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

June 3-23, 2003
Deputy Ray Merlin, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, represents Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games from Athens, Greece to Dublin, Ireland.

November 2003
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® raises nearly $1.2 million statewide, with registered law enforcement participants reaching 1,239. Wisconsin receives awards for the largest increase in gross revenue, 5th highest funds per capita and 3rd largest program in the world.

2004
Eight Polar Plunges were held across the state with more than 5,400 plungers, 20,000 spectators and raised more than $930,000.

June 2004
John Fischer, New Berlin Police Department and Gerry Flunker, Appleton Police Department, are inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

November 2004
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® raises nearly $1.3 million statewide, with 1,322 registered law enforcement participating. Wisconsin receives awards for the 4th highest funds per capita and 3rd largest program in the world.

2005
Jason Plaza, Marathon County Sheriff’s Department serves as the third State Torch Run Director through 2006.

2005
Stevens Point was added as an additional site for a total of nine Polar Plunges across the state with more than 5,600 plungers, 20,000 spectators, raising $937,000.

February 17-27, 2005
Inspector Lorie Floyd, Wisconsin State Patrol, represents Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Japan. Dennis Alldridge, President, Special Olympics Wisconsin, serves as Final Leg Support Team Member.

May 2005
The Special Olympics Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run® Volunteer of the Year Award is created to recognize outstanding Wisconsin Professional Police Association officers who have committed themself to the mission of Special Olympics Wisconsin as evidenced by participation and leadership in Law Enforcement Torch Run® or Special Olympics events. Officer Greg Koentopp, North Fond du Lac Police Department is the first recipient of the award.

June 2005
Lisa Walter, UW-Stout Police Department, and Julie Buedding, Special Olympics Wisconsin, are inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

September 24, 2005
The first World’s Largest Truck Convoy® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is held, presented by Quad/Graphics with 104 trucks participating, raising $38,919.76 for the athletes.

October 2005
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® raises over $1.3 million statewide, with 1,254 registered law enforcement participating. Wisconsin receives awards for 3rd highest funds per capita, 4th largest program in the world and is one of seven states to receive the new Diamond Level of Excellence for $1,000,000 LETR Program.

2006
Ray Merlin, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department serves as the fourth State Torch Run Director.

2006
Merle Cooney begins term as the third Special Olympics athlete representative on the State LETR Committee through 2009.

2006
Nine Polar Plunges were held (two had to be cancelled due to extreme cold weather) across the state with more than 6,300 plungers raising $985,000.

May 2006
Officer Bob Roeske, Rothschild Police Department, receives the Special Olympics Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run® Volunteer of the Year Award presented at the annual Wisconsin Professional Police Association banquet.

June 2006
Richard LaMunyon (Honorary Member), Founder Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, Kansas, Colleen Gertschen of the Rothschild Police Department, John Graham of the Fond du Lac Police Department, Ray Merlin of the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department and Anthony Zblewski of the Stevens Point Police Department are inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

June 24 – July 2, 2006
Corrections Officer Daryl Pries, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, represents Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the first ever, 2006 USA National Games in Iowa. Julie Buedding, Director of Development, LETR, Special Olympics Wisconsin, serves as Final Leg Support Team Member.

September 16, 2006
The 2nd Annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is held, presented by Quad/Graphics with 93 trucks participating, raising $40,503.00 for the athletes.

November 2006
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin celebrate its 20th Anniversary, raising nearly $1.4 million statewide, with 1,253 registered law enforcement participating. Wisconsin receives the Diamond Level of Excellence, along with awards for 3rd highest funds per capita and 5th largest program in the world.

2007
Nine Polar Plunges were held (one having to be rescheduled for a week later and one modifying their event into a Pinky Plunge) across the state with 5,465 plungers and finally exceed raising more than $1 million ($269,714.80 raised online alone!)

May 2007
Deputy Jerry Frank, Vernon County Sheriff’s Department, receives the Special Olympics Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run® Volunteer of the Year Award presented at the annual Wisconsin Professional Police Association banquet.

June 2007
Captain Mark Moan, Onalaska Police Department, and Peggy Frank, City of Eau Claire, are inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

September 15, 2007
The 3rd Annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is held, presented by Quad/Graphics and WEL Companies/Wally Tielens Memorial Fund with 121 trucks participating, raising $87,796.13 for the athletes.

September 22 – October 4, 2007
Chief Lisa Walter, UW-Stout Police Department, represents Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in China. Dennis Alldridge, President, and Julie Buedding, Director of Development for Special Olympics Wisconsin, serve as Final Leg Support Team Members.

November 2007
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® raises over $1.3 million statewide, with 986 registered law enforcement participating. Wisconsin receives the Diamond Level of Excellence and an award for the 5th highest funds per capita and is the 6th largest program in the world.

2008
Whitewater joined in for a total of ten Polar Plunges with more than 6,200 plungers raising nearly $1.2 million. Since the Polar Plunge® Fundraiser began in Wisconsin a total of 42,405 plungers have raised more than $7 million.

May 2008
Officer Andy Dewitt, Wisconsin Rapids Police Department, receives the Special Olympics Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run® Volunteer of the Year presented at the annual Wisconsin Professional Police Association banquet.

June 2008
Dan Brauer, Glendale Police Department, and Tammy Kubisiak, Grand Rapids Police Department, are inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

September 20, 2008
The 4th Annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is held, presented by Quad/Graphics and WEL Companies/Wally Tielens Memorial Fund with 122 trucks participating, raising $100,930.00 for the athletes.

October 2008
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® earns the Diamond Level of Excellence for raising over $1.5 million statewide, with 959 registered law enforcement participating and is the 6th largest program in the world.

November 2008
Julie Buedding, Special Olympics Wisconsin, Director of Development, LETR is inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame at the 25th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run conference held in Dallas, Texas.

2009
A total of 11 Polar Plunges were held, with the newest addition at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee. A total of 7,764 plungers raised more than $1.5 million for the 10,000 athletes who participate in Special Olympics Wisconsin!

2009
Martha Hill begins term as the fourth Special Olympics athlete representative on the State LETR Committee through 2012.

January 28 – February 8, 2009
Sgt. Steve Janus, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, represents Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho. Chief Lisa Walter, UW-Stout Police Department, serves as Running Team Leader; Julie Buedding, Director of Development, LETR, Special Olympics Wisconsin, serves as Final Leg Support Team Member.

May 2009
Officer Michael Riemer, Racine Police Department, receives the Special Olympics Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run® Volunteer of the Year Award presented at the annual Wisconsin Professional Police Association banquet.

June 2009
Daryl Pries, Wisconsin Department of Corrections and the Cadott Police Department is inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

September 26, 2009
The 5th Annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is held, presented by Quad/Graphics with 137 trucks participating, raising $99,000.00 for the athletes.

November 2009
Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® ranks 5th highest in the world and earns the Diamond Level of Excellence for raising over $1.8 million statewide, with 1,055 registered law enforcement participating. Wisconsin has the largest increase in gross revenue in the world (nearly $300,000).

2010
Menomonie joined in for a total of 12 Polar Plunges with 9,582 plungers raising more than $1.8 million. Since the Polar Plunge® Fundraiser began in Wisconsin, a total of 59,751 plungers have raised more than $10 million!

May 2010
Deputy Robert Shaffer, Retired, Dane County Sheriff’s Department, receives the Special Olympics Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run® Volunteer of the Year Award presented at the annual Wisconsin Professional Police Association banquet.

June 2010
Jenny LeBelle of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Gene Rousseau, Retired from the Brown County Sheriff’s Department and Michael Teem (Honorary Induction), Raleigh (NC) Police Department are inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

July 10-19, 2010
Investigator Mark Mauthe, City of Menasha Police Department, represents Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2010 USA National Games in Nebraska. Julie Buedding, Director of Development, LETR, Special Olympics Wisconsin, serves as Final Leg Support Team Member.

September 2010
The first Over the Edge events are held for Special Olympics Wisconsin in Madison and Milwaukee, with 90 people repelling down Hilton Hotels to raise more than $80,000 for the athletes.

September 18, 2010
The 6th Annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is held, presented by Quad/Graphics with 120 trucks participating, raising $82,888.00 for the athletes.

October 2010
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is 1 of 12 programs to earn the Diamond Level of Excellence by raising $2.3 million in one year for the athletes, with 1,215 registered law enforcement participating. Wisconsin receives awards for the 4th largest increase in gross revenue, 5th highest funds per capita and 5th largest program in the world.

October 2010
Wisconsin athlete Martha Hill was selected to serve on the International Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Executive Council for a two year term (2011-2013). The Executive Council is an important body that provides guidance, resources and oversight to the overall Law Enforcement Torch Run movement worldwide.

2011
Twelve Polar Plunges took place February 5 – March 5, 2011. A total of 9,320 Plungers raised more than $1.9 million dollars for Special Olympics Wisconsin.

May 2011
Nichelle (Niki) Nelson, Waukesha Police Department, receives the Special Olympics Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run® Volunteer of the Year Award presented at the annual Wisconsin Professional Police Association banquet.

June 2011
Kathy Schult, Milwaukee Police Department and Dave Gerber, Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, are inducted into the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Dale Brunner Hall of Fame.

June 2011
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Chief LaMunyon celebrates with officers at the State Summer Games in Stevens Point.

June 2011
Carolyn Voelker, Special Olympics Wisconsin athlete and Officer Kathy Schult, Milwaukee Police Department, represent Wisconsin in the LETR Final Leg at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

August & October 2011
Over the Edge events are held for Special Olympics Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and in Madison and Milwaukee, with 130 people repelling to raise $156,789 for the athletes.

September 2011
The 7th Annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is held, presented by Quad/Graphics with 101 trucks participating, raising $72,494 for the athletes.

November 2011
The International LETR Conference is held outside of the United States for the first time in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is 1 of 13 programs to earn the Diamond Level of Excellence by raising $2,386,592 in one year for the athletes, with 1,142 registered law enforcement participating. Wisconsin is recognized as the 6th largest LETR program in the world.

November 2011
Martha Hill, Special Olympics Wisconsin athlete, is recognized at the International LETR Conference in Calgary, Canada as one of three inaugural recipients of the LETR International Executive Council Athlete Award.

2012
A total of 12 Polar Plunges are scheduled to take place February 4 – March 3, 2012.

March 2012
Tyler Derringer begins term as the fifth Special Olympics athlete representative on the State LETR Committee through 2015.

June 2012
The 26th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin takes place.