By C1 Staff
ROSELLE PARK, N.J. — Continuing an annual tradition, Union County Jail corrections officers will dress up as superheroes in the lead up to the Special Olympics Summer Games next month.
Officer Peter Femia told NJ1015 that his team, “Heroes4Heroes,” struggles with fundraising every year due to the lack of visibility in their communities.
He said corrections officers don’t serve their towns in the same way that police departments do. The costumes have helped, because although everyone might not know what a corrections officer does, they can always recognize a superhero. Their name is an homage to the admiration the officers have for the special olympics athletes, NJ 1015 reported.
“It’s a great cause, and at the same time, we can get out from behind the walls of this jail and let people in the community know who we are,” Femia said. “You may not know who we were before, but now you know who we are. You know who we are as people, you know how we are as people living in your community, and you know who we are as family members.”
The Law Enforcement Torch Run leads up to the opening ceremony for the Special Olympics Summer Games that begin on June 9. According to the Kitsap Sun, events like the Torch Run help raise awareness and expand the special olympics athlete base, allowing more people to benefit from their programs.
For more information on the Special Olympics Games and to learn more about the Law Enforcement Torch Run, visit letr.org.
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