Franklin Township Police Officer Robert Brown gets the torch handoff to start the squad’s leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

A team from the Franklin Township Police Department joined up with members of the South Brunswick Police Department on May 30 to run a leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics.

Started in 1981, the torch run has raised more than $461 million for the Special Olympics, according to its Web site.

Franklin’s team was spearheaded by Det. Kevin Fitzharris, with help from several other officers, including Lt. Mark Reiner.

The officers gathered at Bennington Road and Route 27, where the torch was handed off to Officer Robert Brown. The teams ran a 7-mile leg down Rt. 27, through South Brunswick and to the Princeton border.

Fitzharris said the Franklin team had so far raised about $2,000 for the Special Olympics, but that number was likely to increase with more events being planned.

The New Jersey Special Olympics kicked off May 30 at The College of New Jersey. The national Special Olympics will take place in June in Mercer County.

FTPD Special Olympics Torch Run 2014