Gulfport Police Help with Special Olympics Torch Run

Members of the Gulfport Police Department will help carry the Special Olympics torch along a part of the more than 20 mile relay as will other Pinellas county law enforcement agencies Tuesday. They're also getting some help from community members and volunteers as well.

Participants include:

• Chief Robert Vincent
• Det. Hanh Pham
• Det. Jimmie Embry
• Ofc. Robert McLaughlin (traffic detail)
• Sgt. Robert Burkhart (traffic detail)
• James Beane (driver)
• David Hastings
• Guadalupe Gagnon
• Steven Munch (National Guard)
• Jennifer Salmon (council member)
• Cathy Salustri (Gabber)

How you can help:

There's still time for you to get involved and help raise money for the Special Olympics. Purchase a t-shirt for $12 and sign up by 4 p.m. Monday at the Gulfport Police Department and you can run, bike or roller blade with participants on Tuesday morning. For more information contact Det. Hanh Pham at 893-1041 or 893-1030.

For more information check out the "Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics" website.

Tuesday's route:

The Gulfport Police Department officers and volunteers will carry the torch following the 9:10 a.m. start time at the New Heights Elementary School in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, April 10.

Gulfport Police Detective Hanh Pham organized and coordinated their participation in the county wide event. He also encouraged members outside of the department to sign up. Pham's excited to see people join him in his efforts to raise money for the Special Olympics.

"I want to make a difference. This is a way to make a difference in someone's life," Gulfport Police Detective Hanh Pham said.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a statewide event that covers 1,500 niles in 66 counties before the annual Special Olympics games which are May 18 to 19 at the Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

The torch run starts at 8:15 a.m. at the St. Petersburg Police department and is scheduled to end at about 1:15 p.m. at the Clearwater school.

Here are the route times and locations for the entire Pinellas County route:

Start: 8:15 a.m. at St. Petersburg Police, 1300 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg
Route: 1st Ave N to US Highway 19 to 38th Ave N end at New Heights Elementary,  3901 37th St N, St. Petersburg.

Start: 9:10 a.m. at New Heights Elementary School
Route: US Highway 19, to 70th Ave N., then west to reception at Nina Harris Exceptional School, 6000 70th Ave N, Pinellas Park.

Start: 10:15 a.m. at Nina Harris Exceptional School
Route: 70th Ave. N. to 66th Street, then north to 118th Ave., then east to student reception at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School, 6410 118th Ave, Largo.

Start: 10:55 a.m. at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School
Route: 118th Ave to 62nd Street, then over to 126th Ave., then under US 19
to the service road, east on Ulmerton Road to Pinellas County Sheriff's Office CSI building at 49th Street and 145th Avenue.

Start: 11:45 a.m. at Pinellas County Sheriff's Office CSI building
Route: North on 49th Street, over Bayside Bridge to Del Oro Park on
McMullen Booth Road

Start: Around 12:45 p.m. at Del Oro Park
Route: North on McMullen Booth, then west on Sunset Point Road to the finish at , 2935 County Road 193.

End: Around 1:30 p.m. with a torch arrival and student reception at Paul B.
Stephens Exceptional School.