By CHRISTOPHER SERJU

Members of the police force came in for high praise from Executive Director of the Special Olympics Jamaica, Lorna Bell on Tuesday, after she accepted a cheque for $1.6-million from Acting Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington at his St. Andrew office.

Occasion was the presentation of a cheque for the money raised by members of the force during its Law Enforcement Torch Run last year. Despite the shortfall in the $2-million target set by the police, the money was a big boost for the organisation, which used Tuesday’s press conference to officially launch its fundraising programme for 2010. Some of these fundraising projects will seek to raise money to send a team to next year’s Special Olympics World Summer games to be held in Athens, Greece.

Held every two years, the Torch Run is undertaken by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and its affiliates who take a torch through 19 police divisions across the 14 parishes. Last year it started in Half-way, St. Andrew and finished at the Police Traffic headquarters at Elletson Road in the same parish and the Special Olympics Jamaica executive was delighted with the outcome.

“When one takes into account the prevailing harsh economic conditions and the fact that this money was raised on the sweat of people who care enough about our cause to hit the road literally every two years, one cannot help but be touched,” she shared.

Describing the police as the “backbone” of Special Olympics Jamaica over the past 25 years, Bell told the Sunday Herald afterwards that she continues to be impressed by the selflessness of the policemen and women of all ranks.

“There is nothing that I have asked of them that they have not given more than 100 per cent. Whether our athletes need transportation to get to the airport or whatever, we can depend on them and have in fact come to rely on them over the years.  They keep in touch with us, enquiring about the welfare of the athletes and are always there for us.

“I think it is a shame that the country at large does not know how much they (police) have done for us. We will never be able to repay them,” she explained. “In addition, the Police Credit Union came on board to support us this time round, along with longtime sponsors Digicel, Victoria Mutual, Supreme Ventures Limited and Coldfield Industries.”

In his response, Acting Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington gave the assurance that under his watch that support would continue.

Meanwhile, the four athletes who will participate in the Second Special Olympics Latin American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico from February 19-27 were presented to the media. Racquel Lovindeer, Crystal Knight, Nicholas McBean and Andrew Bartholomew will contest the backstroke, free style and medley relay events.

While Jamaica will only compete in aquatics, the Games will see more than 1,000 athletes from 35 countries also competing in athletics, unified basketball, bocce, bowling, football, rhythmic gymnastics, power lifting, tennis, triathlon and softball. It will also include a number of non-sport programmes such as a forum on health, education and sports, healthy athletes screening and professional sports clinics for coaches and athletes.