Tonight, from 5-8 p.m., law enforcement officers and local officials will take their oath to "serve and protect" to a new level, trading in their handcuffs and badges for menus and serving trays at the "Law and Orders" event taking place at various
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar locations throughout the Western Region.
Law enforcement from the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Air Force Reserve, U.S. Air Force National Guard, New York State Police, Erie County Probation, Niagara Falls Police Department, University Police Buffalo State, Jamestown Police Department, Cuba Police Department and others will join staff at the Applebee's restaurants to greet customers, bus tables and serve guests. In return, officers hope to collect tips from diners to benefit
Special Olympics New York and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Participating locations:
- Amherst, 1641 Niagara Falls Blvd.
- Blasdell, 4405 Milestrip Road
- Dunkirk, 3908 Vineyard Drive
- Lakewood, 340 East Fairmount Ave.
- Lockport, 5822 S. Transit Road
- Niagara Falls, 1608 Military Road
- Olean, 3067 West State St.
- Williamsville, 5017 Transit Road
The Torch Run is a year-round, grassroots fundraising campaign by law enforcement agencies to benefit their local Special Olympics program. Each year, officers carry the "Flame of Hope" through the streets of their hometowns and countries and deliver it to their local, state and national Special Olympics games.
Special Olympics is an international, year-round program of sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. More than 68,500 athletes in New York train and compete in Olympic-style summer, fall and winter sports. Locally, thousands of athletes from the Western Region participate in training clubs and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families and the community.
In 2016, "Law and Orders" night raised over $9,900 locally for the athletes of Special Olympics New York, and the LETR program raised more than $2 million statewide. Within the Law Enforcement Torch Run more than $50 million was raised globally.
