The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office sent a representative to the 2023 Summer Special Olympics World Games to participate in their Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

Sergeant Ray Dirksen made the trip to Berlin, Germany to be involved in the torch run and opening ceremony at Olympic Stadium. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a tradition that started in the United States that allows members of law enforcement and athletes to carry the Flame of Hope to the Opening Ceremony of a Special Olympic event. Dirksen explains that he was on one of eight torch running teams which had other other law enforcement personnel from around the world. Dirksen says  they ran the torch six miles for three days in different parts of Germany before delivering the torch to the opening ceremony.

“It was an honor and it was kind of emotional. You’re running through these towns and, you know, you have hundreds and sometimes thousands of people sitting there cheering you on because. Germany for Germany. The way I understand it, this is the first official law enforcement torch run they’ve ever had for the Special Olympics and people were coming out in big numbers to see that.”

Dirksen also describes his experience entering the Olympic Stadium which held the 1936 Olympic Games.

“I will tell you that you get chills just looking down. I mean, you get chills. And then we were able to go down on the track for a little bit and just knowing that you’re on the track, that these Olympians at the time were able to compete on in the history of the Olympics as the athletes were coming in, my team, number one, we went down to the tunnel and we were given high fives, taking pictures, greeting athletes from not just the United States, but from all around the world as they were coming in.”

The Law Enforcement Torch Run in Berlin, Germany took place from June 14th to June 16th and the opening ceremony took place on June 17th.