LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
The membership of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Council comprises the following:
Chairman Emeritus (1)
Special Olympics Appointees (2)
Special Olympics At-Large (2)
Special Olympics Athlete Appointee (1)
SOI Executive Director of LETR (1)
IACP Appointees (2)
NAAG (National Assn of Attorneys General) Appointee (1)
Council Appointees (2)
Law Enforcement At-Large (3)
Regional Coordinators (14)
Scroll down to view the profiles of the Council Members
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Richard LaMunyon
Richard is currently the City Manager for Maize, Kansas, a suburb of Wichita. He was a member of the Wichita Police Department for over 26 years and served as its Police Chief from 1976 until 1989. He is active as an advisor for Law Enforcement to Wichita and the surrounding area.
As Wichita’s Police Chief he founded the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics in 1981 and has remained active in its growth.
In 1995 at the request of Sergeant Shriver, he assumed the role as Chairman of the International Executive Council for the Torch Run and is currently Chairman Emeritus. Richard lives in Wichita with Sharron, his wife of 53 years. They have two grown married sons and four grandchildren.
LETR01
CHAIRMAN
Scott Whyte
Scott has been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for nine years and was the foundation Torch Run Director of the first LETR Program established in Australia (LETR NSW).
He retired from the New South Wales Police Force in August 2015 at the rank of Detective Superintendent. In addition to the 32 years spent with the NSW Police Force (1983 - 2015), Scott was also a member of Strathclyde Police in Scotland from 1978 till 1981.
He is married to Julianne and they have a daughter, Rebecca.
Scott has been a member of the LETR International Executive Council since 2012.
Scott was inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame in 2016.
LETR02
Council Member since 2012
Current Term expires in 2022
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Dave Dorn
(SO AT LARGE)
LETR03
Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2021
SPECIAL OLYMPICS APPOINTEE
Kelli Seely
Kelli Seely oversees the global fundraising strategy for Special Olympics in the 170 countries where they have a presence.
Kelli is a 20-year veteran of the non-profit industry. Prior to her position at Special Olympics she served as the Sr. Vice President/Chief Development Officer of the United Service Organizations (USO) in Washington, D.C.
She has extensive experience in the corporate arena having secured partnerships with major Fortune 100 companies including Microsoft, Visa, Kroger, Proctor & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and American Airlines.
Prior to her move to the East Coast, Kelli made her mark on several organizations in California. As President and CEO of Make-a-Wish Foundation in Los Angeles, she created the organization’s successful national “A Season of Wishes” campaign.
Seely lives in Washington, D. C. with her husband Jeff and Italian Mastiff, Bella.
LETR5
Council Member since 2015
Current Term expires in 2021
SPECIAL OLYMPICS APPOINTEE
Dave Breen
To be completed
LETR04
Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2020
SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT-LARGE
David Solo
LETR7
Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2022
SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT-LARGE
Lisa Smith
LETR6
Council Member since 2017
Current Term expires in 2020
SO ATHLETE APPOINTEE
Kevin Brown
To be completed
LETR08
Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2020
NAAG APPOINTEE
Jason Ravnsborg
Information to follow
LETR30
Council Member since 2019
Current Term expires in 2021
IACP APPOINTEE
Russ Laine
Russ Laine has been involved in law enforcement since 1976 and recently retired as the Chief of Algonquin Police Department in Illinois. He is a Past President of the IACP and is still actively involved with that organisation.
He has been involved with the Torch Run since 1989 and has been a member of the Executive Council since 2000.
Russ is a Board member with Special Olympics Illinois.
Russ was inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame in 2013.
Russ is marred with two children and four grand children and loves the outdoors and boating.
LETR10
Council Member since 2000
Current Term expires in 2020
IACP APPOINTEE
Walt McNeil
Walt McNeil has 35 years of professional executive leadership in criminal justice, including 12 years as a Police Chief in two Florida police agencies and 4 years working and leading 2 Florida state-wide agencies. His career began in 1979 in the Tallahassee, Florida Police Department serving at all levels. Walt is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has served two terms as the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. He was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to lead the Florida response to Hurricane Katrina when that hurricane struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Walt currently serves as a two year member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council appointed by Secretary Napolitano. He serves as the Chair of the IACP LETR Committee and is a Past President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
LETR11
Council Member since 2012
Current Term expires in 2019
COUNCIL APPOINTEE
Rodney Seurer
To be Completed
LETR12
Council Member since 2016
Current Term expires in 2020
LAW ENFORCEMENT AT-LARGE
Lee Barrett
To be completed
LETR14
Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2021
LAW ENFORCEMENT AT-LARGE
Steve Nigrelli
Steve is a 24 year veteran of the New York State Police and is currently assigned as a Staff Inspector. Steve first carried the Flame of Hope in 1994 and has been a Torch Runner ever since.
Steve has served as the New York State LETR Director from 2011 till 2017.
Since joining the NYS LETR family, Steve has organized and volunteered at dozens of LETR events in New York State, including; Chairman of Polar Plunge, Chairman of “Law and Orders”, Coordinator of Western New York Torch Run legs and serves on an “Over The Edge” Committee. Steve was selected to be a member of the 2013 Final Leg team in Korea.
Steve was awarded the John Carion Unsung Hero Award in 2012 and was inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame in 2016.
He has been a member of the LETR International Executive Council since 2013.
LETR13
Council Member since 2013
Current Term expires in 2020
LAW ENFORCEMENT AT-LARGE
Antonio Williams
LETR15
Council Member since 2010
Current Term expires in 2022
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION I
Joe Carlone
USA
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Joseph Carlone retired recently from the Connecticut Department of Corrections as a Captain with 25 years service.
n his spare time he enjoys camping with his family and spending time in the gym.
Joe is an active volunteer who participates and supports several Special Olympics events such as penguin plunges, Summer Games and others.
Joe is currently the Assistant Torch Run Director and the Region 1 Coordinator and has been involved with Torch Run for over twenty years.
Joe is not just involved with Special Olympics, he lives it every day, his daughter and son are huge volunteers and passionate about the athletes they support.
Joe was inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame in 2015.
LETR16
Council Member since 2011
Current Term expires in 2022
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION II
John Newnan
USA
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
John has been involved in the Torch Run since the inaugural Torch Run in Maryland in 1986. He has served as his agency coordinator, county coordinator, and has been the MD LETR Director since 1999. He is a Final Leg veteran and serves on the Torch Run Executive Council as the Region II Coordinator.
John was honored in 2005 to be inducted into the Richard LaMunyon International LETR Hall of Fame.
He is especially proud that his Torch Run efforts involve his entire family, his wife Kathy, son Ryan, daughter Jessica, and daughter-in-law, Ashley who works for Special Olympics Maryland as their volunteer coordinator.
LETR17
Council Member since 2005
Current Term expires in 2020
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION III
Mike Anderson
USA
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Mike has been with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office for the past 30 years and currently serves as the Bureau Commander. He has been involved with the Torch Run for the past 29 years and has served in numerous capacities to include agency, county and regional coordinator as well as coach to the local golf program.
He currently serves as the representative to region III on the LETR International Executive Council. He is also the Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run Region 8 Director.
The Torch Run has meant a great deal to Mike over the past 29 years and has given him a greater appreciation for life.
LETR18
Council Member since 2012
Current Term expires in 2021
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION IV
Patrick Hoey
USA
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio
LETR19
Council Member since 2016
Current Term expires in 2022
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION V
Mike Shortreed
USA
Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
To be completed
LETR20
Council Member since 2017
Current Term expires in 2020
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION VI
Heath Helton
USA
Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas
To be Completed
LETR21
Council Member since 2017
Current Term expires in 2021
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION VII
Robert Woolsey
USA
Arizona, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern California, Southern California, Utah
Robert is currently assigned as an Operations Lieutenant for the City of Las Vegas Marshals Office. He has 18 years of law enforcement experience and currently sits on various public safety related boards and commissions throughout Nevada. Robert is married and has two children who also volunteer their time to Special Olympics.
LETR22
Council Member since 2015
Current Term expires in 2022
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION VIII
Ron Casalenda
USA
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming
Ron is the Chief of Police with the Douglas Police Department and has over 35 years of law enforcement experience. Ron was been involved with LETR since 1994 and has been the Wyoming State LETR Co-Director since 1999.
Ron is married to his wife Deb, and has 2 children a son Justin, a daughter Ashley, and has 2 grandchildren. When not working with LETR, Ron enjoys camping, working as a high school/middle school basketball official and involved in multiple aspects of football, cross country and track officiating.
Ron's biggest accomplishment involving LETR is his induction into the Richard LaMunyon Torch Run Hall of Fame in 2008.
LETR23
Council Member since 2013
Current Term expires in 2020
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION IX
Gary Gordon
EUROPE / EURASIA
Gary has been a member of the An Garda Siochana (Police Force of the Republic of Ireland) for over 25 years and is currently in charge of the Community Policing Unit in Kilkenny.
Gary is the Secretary and Treasurer of the Republic of Ireland LETR and took part in the 2009 Final Leg as a Torch Runner and in the 2013 and 2015 Final Legs as a Team Leader.
LETR24
Council Member since 2015
Current Term expires in 2021
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION IX
Jan Branderhorst
EUROPE / EURASIA
LETR25
Council Member since 2017
Current Term expires in 2022
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION XI
Rick Lucy
CANADA
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, North West Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Rick Lucy recently retired as Deputy Chief from the Abbotsford Police Department after more than 32 years service.
He has been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for 25 years and is the current Director of British Columbia LETR as well as being a Director on the Board of Special Olympics British Columbia.
Rick was selected as a Torch Runner for the 2015 Final Leg in California.
LETR26
Council Member since 2015
Current Term expires in 2020
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION XII
James Kao
EAST ASIA
Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Korea
James Kao has been with the Taiwan police force for over 34 years, 29 years in the Department of Taipei City, 5 years in Department of Taoyuan City and Yi-Lan County. He currently serves as the Director of Crime Prevention Division of National Police Agency.
James is one of the first officers involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run since 1999, the beginning year of the LETR Chinese Taipei program. He was also selected as the first Final Leg runner representing Taiwan in 2001, Alaska. During his service at different departments, he enthusiastically introduced the Law Enforcement Torch Run to his colleagues, and successfully organized several Special Olympics activities such as Golf, hay rolling, bocce and others.
James is married and has a son. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
LETR27
Council Member since 2017
Current Term expires in 2021
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION XIII
Stephanie Lindsay
CARRIBEAN
Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Christopher & Nevis, St Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands
Stephanie has been actively involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Jamaica for over 15 years, both as a runner and coordinator of Torch Run activities.
She is currently a Superintendent with the Community Safety and Security Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
Stephanie was selected as a Torch Runner for the 2015 Final Leg in California and joined the Executive Council in 2015.
LETR28
Council Member since 2015
Current Term expires in 2022
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
REGION XIV
Mick Olsen
OCEANIA
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, New Zealand, Tonga
To be completed
LETR29
Council Member since 2017
Current Term expires in 2020