FGCU UPD Sgt., Terry Targia, represented Lee County in the last leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Orlando this summer. He, among other Florida county officers, kicked off the Special Olympics Summer Games on May 19. 

“Specifically, what the event was is the Law Enforcement Torch Run,” Targia said. “Officers go out of their way to raise funds for the Special Olympics. Every county throughout the state has a torch run, so we are considered the ‘Guardians of the Torch.’ We take the lit torch and we run throughout the county, and we raise money for the Special Olympics, and it’s used towards the athletic programs for the special needs athletes.” 

The last county to run is Osceola County.

“You end up going into ESPN Stadium where all the athletes are in the stands. The officers go running and the stadium is filled with police patrol vehicles with their lights on. The officers run and they light the torch to begin the Summer Games,” he said. 

The next day, Targia volunteered to place medals on the athletes.

“Placing medals on the athletes was my favorite part because they get super excited to be around us officers which makes us super excited,” Targia said. 

He recalls making friends with one of the athletes.

“At the event, while the teams were playing volleyball, one of the athlete’s mothers fell out of the stands and hit her head and was unconscious on the floor,” Targia said. “I had to run over, I was one of the first people there to try and render aid to her. It took some time for us to get EMS to come. We woke her up and she winded up being okay after some ice packs and some attention. But one of the athletes that I got to place a medal on, it was his mom. So, he was doubly excited and became my friend for the whole event,” he said.

Overall, Targia enjoys attending the weekend-long event. 

“I get to spend time with the athletes, and I will say that it’s very rewarding to be able to give back,” Targia said.