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


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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


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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)

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David Dorn was named President of Special Olympics Minnesota, November 14, 2005.

Prior to SOMN, Dave brought 23 years of business development leadership experience. In the past 12 years SOMN has seen their investment and emphasis in the partnership with Law Enforcement result in the funding and awareness that has fueled the huge growth in our schools and health initiatives programming. This has resulted in more athletes, partners, and greater state wide participation than ever before.

Dave and his wife Katie live in Minnetonka, Minnesota where they raised their 7 children. As a family with a Special Olympics athlete, Special Olympics Minnesota has been not only a great place to work but continues to be an entire family affair.

Dave has a bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

LETR03

Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2021


SPECIAL OLYMPICS APPOINTEE

Kelli Seely

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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

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To be completed

LETR04

Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2020

SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT-LARGE

David Solo

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To be completed

LETR7

Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2022


SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT-LARGE

Lisa Smith

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Lisa Smith currently serves as Director of Development for Special Olympics Delaware and in this capacity also holds the title, Torch Run Liaison.
Lisa began her involvement with Special Olympics as a volunteer in 1999. As a member of the Delaware Air National Guard, she worked closely with Special Olympics as part of the guard’s community involvement. She was so moved by the spirit and mission of the movement that she came on staff with Special Olympics in 2008.
Her work with Delaware’s LETR program began right away with the Truck Convoy and has continued to grow each year. Most recently, she was selected to serve as a Logistics Team member for the 2017 LETR Final Leg World Winter Games Austria. Her motivation comes not only from the athletes she serves but the enthusiasm, talent, and commitment of the law enforcement community she supports.
Lisa resides in Newark, Delaware with her husband, Jeff, and their three children, Jack, Mackenzie and Madison.


LETR6

Council Member since 2017
Current Term expires in 2020

SO ATHLETE APPOINTEE

Kevin Brown

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To be completed

LETR08

Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2020

NAAG APPOINTEE

Jason Ravnsborg

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Information to follow

LETR30

Council Member since 2019
Current Term expires in 2021


IACP APPOINTEE

Russ Laine

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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

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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

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To be Completed

LETR12

Council Member since 2016
Current Term expires in 2020


LAW ENFORCEMENT AT-LARGE

Lee Barrett

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To be completed

LETR14

Council Member since 2018
Current Term expires in 2021

LAW ENFORCEMENT AT-LARGE

Steve Nigrelli

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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

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Antonio L. Williams is the Chief of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii. He oversees 12 Department of the Army Police Departments located around the Pacific Rim, including Alaska, Korea, Japan, Kwajalein Atoll and Hawaii. A former Chief of Police in Hawaii, Antonio has been in law enforcement for over 30 years. Prior to becoming a federal law enforcement officer, he served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer for twenty-two years, retiring honorably as a First Sergeant in 2008.

His roles have expanded to include volunteer coach and unified player in softball and bocce, a highly successful fundraiser and a member of the Special Olympics Hawaii Executive Committee. Antonio also sits on the International Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Executive Council as the Law Enforcement Councilman At Large and the Chair of the Military Expansion Initiative (MEI).

While he’s a dedicated and successful fundraiser, Antonio’s greatest contribution to Special Olympics is his ability to raise awareness by encouraging volunteerism and leading others to see the important value of the organization’s mission.

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

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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

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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

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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

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Pat served for 30 years with the Rockford Police Department in Illinois and retired as an Assistant Deputy Chief.

He has been involved in the Torch Run for 30 years and a Leg Leader and State Committee member for 13 years. He currently holds the position of Assistant Torch Run Director for Illinois.

Pat is heavily involved in Illinois Area 1 Special Olympics programs and is on the committee for the Polar Plunge and Spring Games. Pat was honored to participate in the 2007 Final Leg Run in China representing Illinois Law Enforcement.

Pat’s schedule seems to revolve around what LETR fundraising event is occurring in his area and State.


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

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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

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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

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Robert has been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the last 16 years and has developed a proven track record of fund raising and cooperative collaboration between the Nevada state program and his international partners. Robert’s experience has helped him serve as a member of the International Marketing and Development Committee and as a Final Leg Planning Committee Member for the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles. Over the last 8 years, Robert has been heavily involved in the active planning and sharing of ideas in Region 7 and has used those best practices to grow Nevada’s program as its State Director, but also his sister programs in Region VII. Robert has mentored and worked within Region 7 to help expand opportunities to fundraise and grow public awareness and his dedication to the LETR and the athletes of Special Olympics earned him the John Carion “Unsung Hero” award in 2014.

 

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

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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

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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

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Jan has been with the Dutch Police for more than 39 years. He started his career in 1978 in the police force of the City of Amsterdam. In 1985, he switched to the city of Rotterdam and became a detective. Since then Jan has worked in several  detective units and in 2016 started as a team leader fighting organized crime with the National Police.

Together with 3 other colleagues, Jan started Law Enforcement Torch Run Netherlands in 1997. This was a result of a good conversation with Adi Reiter from Torch Run Austria during a conference of the AICP in Rotterdam.

Since 1997 he has organized many Torch Runs in the Netherlands and also the Torch Run for the European Summer Games in 2000 in Groningen (Netherlands) and 2014 in Antwerp (Belgium). Jan has been a member of the European LETR Committee for over 10 years. He was nominated and selected to participate in the 2011 LETR Final Leg (Team 5) in Athens (Greece).  Jan is currently the chairman of Torch Run The Netherlands. They organize approximately 10-12 Torch Runs every year.  

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

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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



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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

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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

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To be completed

LETR29

Council Member since 2017
Current Term expires in 2020


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