About 20 officers from the North Bergen Police Department helped launch the 34th annual NJ Special Olympics – Law Enforcement Torch Run on Friday June 9. The run began at the north end of Braddock Park at 9:30 a.m. and proceeded through Hudson, Essex, Union, Middlesex, and Somerset Counties before ending in Franklin Township about 6:45 p.m.

Some North Bergen officers ran the entire Hudson County leg of the journey, a trip of just under 13 miles. Others handed off the torch to Union City officers at 49th Street. The NBPD participates in numerous events each year to raise money for the Special Olympics. Last year they raised over $19,000 for the cause, ranking them sixth in the state. This year the department aims to raise even more, with one more event upcoming: the Classic Car & Bike Show on June 25.

Police Chief Robert Dowd, who has run the event in the past, thanked the participating officers at the start of the run. Joining him was Joseph Maccagnano, a North Bergen resident who competes each year in the Special Olympics thanks in part to the generous contributions from the NBPD.