The Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch run stepped off  in Sanford Tuesday morning as officers from all over Maine do their part to see that the torch gets to Orono by Friday afternoon, in time for the opening of the Special Olympics State Summer Games.

Sanford Police officers Sarah Howe and Andrew Simmons and Detective Chad Allen along with York County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dan Shaw opened the front door of Sanford Police Department just before 8 a.m. and started running. They were to make their way down Main Street to the roundabout in south Sanford and turn toward Route 4, where they were to meet up at Waban with their counterparts from North Berwick Police Department, including officer Martin Morrissey, who has  participated in the Torch Run for 30 years, starting in 1988. Lisa Bird of Special Olympics Maine said this will be Morrissey’s last year.

“He is  retiring at the age of 75, and although we cannot prove it we think he definitely has to be among the oldest active duty officers still running,” she said.

Howe, who carried the torch for the Sanford runners, said she’s been running in the event for 13 years.

“We love to support Special Olympics,” Howe said. She said officers were to visit with some of the athletes at Waban after the torch was handed off to the North Berwick officers.

“We wish them good luck,” she said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].