September 14, 2004

Lansing - The Michigan State Police 120^th Recruit School will join other Michigan State Police members for the 2004 "Moonlight Madness" Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. The recruits will join the Law Enforcement Torch Runâ Central Route in progress at midnight, Thursday, September 16 on the steps of the State Capitol in Lansing.

"This is the first time since the Law Enforcement Torch Runâ began in 1981, that members of an MSP recruit school will participate," said First Lieutenant John Card, MSP Bay City Post commander and Central Route Coordinator. "By participating in the Torch Run, the recruits will get a chance to see being a police officer is not just about enforcing laws; it is also about building strong communities."

The recruits will begin their portion of the Torch Run at the east entrance of the State Capitol. The runners will proceed five miles east along Michigan and Grand River Avenues ending in the parking lot of the Coral Gables Restaurant in East Lansing.

The Law Enforcement Torch Runâ for Special Olympics is an international series of relay runs by law enforcement and corrections officers to support the Special Olympics. Michigan’s Central Route is a non-stop, 750-mile relay beginning September 13 in Copper Harbor and ending September 17 in Sterling Heights. The Central Route team is comprised of runners from the MSP, Fraternal Order of Police and Michigan Department of Corrections.

Last year MSP members raised over $35,000. This year’s MSP team includes: First Lieutenant John Card, Bay City Post; Detective Trooper Brenda Hoffmann, Southeastern Criminal Investigation Division; Trooper Derek Hoffmann, Richmond Post; Detective Sergeant James MacDonald, Criminal Investigation Division; First Lieutenant Andrea Nerbonne, Mt. Pleasant Post; Detective Trooper Eric Wilber, Third District Fugitive Team; Trooper Dawn Zonca, Metro North Post.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

First Lieutenant John Card, Bay City Post, (989) 233-0370, Law Enforcement Torch Runâ

Captain Gene Hoekwater, MSP Training Academy, (517) 322-1501, 120^th Recruit School

The media is encouraged to attend to take videos or photos of the runners.