COEUR d'ALENE - When they aren't patrolling the streets and highways of Kootenai County, law enforcement officers are guardians of the flame.

The flame is the Special Olympic torch, and local law enforcement agencies gathered at Riverstone Park in Coeur d'Alene for a short torch run to get the community ready for the State Summer Special Olympic Games.

"This symbolizes the flame going through the state," said David Kramer, who has been involved with the torch run for 27 years. "This is different agencies coming together to promote awareness for this great program. It's a passion."

Members of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Coeur d'Alene Police Department, Bonners Ferry Police Department, and the North Idaho College Basic Patrol Academy ran as one around the pond at the park. They all took turns holding the flame.

Kootenai County Sheriff's Deputy Harvey Ballman, who was selected to be the law enforcement representative at the National Law Enforcement Torch Run in New Jersey in June, told The Press he got involved because of the transformative power of the Special Olympics.

"I like that it really pushes the athletes to be more outgoing and helps them become more successful people throughout their whole lives," Ballman said. "I really enjoy helping them; they're really inspirational people. They push me to be better myself."

Former Coeur d'Alene Police Department Chief Wayne Longo was also at Friday's run. He said he has been participating in the program since the 1980s.

"It just gets in your blood, it's a passion," Longo said of participating. "For me, it has shown me to never complain about anything, especially after you see what the athletes go through. It's good for law enforcement too, because it gives us a mission to interact with the community."

According to Kramer, the mission of the now international Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is to "increase awareness and raise funds for the Special Olympics movement."

"As the largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics, the Law Enforcement Torch Run raised over $42.6 million in 2012," Kramer said. "Since its inception in 1981, it has grown extensively worldwide with over 97,000 volunteers spanning 46 countries and raising more than $461 million for the Special Olympics movement."

For more information about the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics, visit www.letr.org.