Local Police Run the Torch for the Special Olympics

If you went down Route 9 this afternoon and saw a ton of police officers, motorcycles and flashing lights, not to worry.

It wasn't the response to a major accident but rather a gathering of local Police Benevolent Association members passing the torch through our area. The Westchester County Torch Run leads up to this weekend's Special Olympic opening ceremony at West Point.

Sleepy Hollow Lieutenant Anthony Buetti was one who made the run up Route 9 to Ossining where this precinct handed off the torch to the next. He then showered to return for the beginning of his 4 p.m. shift. All in a day's work.

According to New York Special Olympics regional manager Josh Corday, there's a long-standing relationship between the Special Olympics and police departments. Today's relay went some 60-plus miles northward through the county with about 250 officers participating. Luckily the rain stopped for them.

Thanks to Sleepy Hollow Lieutenant Frank Hrotko for supplying a few seconds of footage from behind the dash of a police car and a photo of the forces gathering today.

Opening ceremony starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at West Point, with games in track and field, aquatics, power-lifting, and adaptive games for severly disabled going until 3 p.m. Open to the public, just bring I.D.