The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics North Carolina (NC LETR) presented state-level awards to outstanding individuals and law enforcement agencies that support Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) at the annual NC LETR Conference held in Cherokee, North Carolina, Feb. 7-9, according to Captain Ryan Jackson of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and also the NC LETR State Director.
The following law enforcement officers and agencies were honored with the 2021 Guardian of the Flame Award. The award is based on the nominee’s ingenuity, motivation, commitment and dedication to NC LETR efforts in North Carolina.
Kelly Siboun of Pender Correctional Institution helped lead her agency in raising $11,367 in 2021 in support of SONC athletes. Over the past four years, Siboun has served in the role of facility coordinator for NC LETR efforts, raising $800 in her first year. Their agency coordinated the largest Torch Run Relay effort in Pender County for the past two consecutive years, coordinating with five different law enforcement agencies. In 2021, Siboun participated in the Over The Edge fundraiser, raising more than $1,000 for SONC, earning the opportunity to rappel the 30 stories of 150 Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
Lieutenant Ken Klos-Weller of the Raleigh Police Department has worked alongside his agency to raise $68,887 in 2021, ranking second in the NC LETR Agency Rankings. Klos-Weller is active as a Final Leg leader for the annual Torch Run Relay in North Carolina and supports fundraising initiatives, including the Publix Torch Icon campaign, Cops on Top®, the Dunkin’ Donuts fundraising campaign and their agency’s annual golf tournament.
The following law enforcement officers, agencies and athletes were also honored with 2021 NC LETR awards:
Most Improved Agency – Fuquay-Varina Police Department
In 2021, the Fuquay-Varina Police Department raised $75,473, an increase of $68,093 in funds raised from 2020.
Fundraising Excellence – Apex Police Department
Securing their place in the top 10 of NC LETR Agency Rankings, the Apex Police Department raised $60,033 in 2021.
Top New Agencies –
Raising $18,019 in 2021, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office was ranked as #18 in the NC LETR Agency Rankings.
Raising $10,838 in 2021, the Dunn Police Department was ranked as #25 in the NC LETR Agency Rankings.
Sheriff of the Year Award – Sheriff Greg Christopher of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office was awarded 2021 Sheriff of the Year, leading his agency at the top of the NC LETR Agency Rankings at #7. Their agency has consistently ranked in the top 10 for the past five years. One of their fundraising events in 2021, Cops on Top was recognized as the largest and most successful event of its kind in NC LETR history.
Chief of the Year – Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department was awarded 2021 Chief of the Year, leading his agency in raising $68,000 in 2021, ranking third in the NC LETR Rankings. Chief Jennings played an integral role in the planning of fundraising efforts, including Cops on Top events, an annual golf tournament, merchandise sales, a motorcycle ride fundraiser, the Publix Torch Icon campaign and Dunkin’ Donuts fundraising campaign.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NC DPS) Official of the Year Award – Commissioner of Prisons Todd Ishee was awarded 2021 DPS Official of the Year. Since assuming the role of commissioner, Ishee has grown his agency’s involvement with the NC LETR. Under his leadership the Division of Adult Corrections raised over $120,000 this year. He has attended the Final Leg Relay in Raleigh, fundraisers across the state and participated in the Over The Edge state-level fundraiser in 2021.
Director’s Award – Foothills Correctional Institution was awarded the 2021 Director’s Award, raising $33,499 in 2021, ranking in the top 10 of NC LETR Agency Rankings. Since 2003, Foothills Correctional Institution is active in recruiting North Carolina Department of Public Safety agencies to join the NC LETR mission.
NC Torch Run Hall of Fame – The NC Torch Run Hall of Fame was created to recognize outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed to NC LETR’s statewide success.
Lieutenant William “Bill” Davis of the North Carolina State University Police Department served as state director of the NC LETR from January 2020 until December 2021. During his tenure, Davis encouraged agencies to exercise creativity in their fundraising efforts, all while supporting and leading state-level events. In May 2021, Davis worked to raise awareness for SONC as law enforcement agencies participated in the Carry the Flame Torch Relay. Traveling across the state from five different points and spanning over 2,000 miles, the 2021 Carry the Flame Torch Run culminated in the Final Leg and lighting of the cauldron on the steps of the North Carolina Capitol in Raleigh on May 27. As the state director, in 2021, NC LETR experienced one of its most successful fundraising years, raising approximately $1.3 million dollars.
Captain Joseph “Joey” Best of the Apex Police Department leads with compassion and deliberation, dedicating his service to Special Olympics athletes. Best works diligently to educate law enforcement officers about the mission of the NC LETR, motivating them to become active participants in the Special Olympics movement. He has helped grow his agency’s fundraising efforts throughout the years, assisting in raising over $300,000 in support of SONC. Best currently serves on the NC LETR State Council in the role of executive council co-coordinator. An active volunteer, Best assists in the implementation of state-level events and is the honorary emcee at the annual NC LETR State Conference.
Access the complete list of 2021 NC LETR Agency Rankings online.
For more information about NC LETR efforts in your community, contact Vice President of Development for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics North Carolina Leslie Moyar at lmoyar@sonc.net or (919)-210-0966.
About the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics North Carolina
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is an international fundraising campaign for Special Olympics. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition for more than 5.4 million children and adults around the world who have intellectual disabilities. Nearly 40,000 athletes participate in Special Olympics in North Carolina, making it one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is officially endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff’s Association, the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the National Association of School Resource Officers, NC Association of School Resource Officers, NC Department of Justice and the NC Department of Public Safety.
About Special Olympics North Carolina
Since 1968, the organization has used the transformative power of sports to improve the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Nearly 40,000 athletes in North Carolina inspire thousands of coaches, sports officials, local program committee members and event organizers involved in Special Olympics statewide. SONC offers year-round training and competition in 20 Olympic-type sports on local and state levels as well as health and wellness initiatives to improve the health status and increase access to community health resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Youth become agents of change through Unified Champion Schools, an education and sports-based program created by Special Olympics to build an inclusive environment among youth with and without intellectual disabilities as well as empower them to become youth leaders and create change in their community. Engage with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
