LETR Awards & Honors
2020
Highlights
Each year the Law Enforcement Torch Run International Executive Council recognised the achievements of Torch Run programs from around the world. This would normally take place at the annual LETR International Conference, which did not place this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This video highlights the overall achievements of the movements as well as listing the winning programs in the various award categories.
2019
Highlights
What an incredible year 2019 was! Just a few highlights from the year:
- 2 Truck Convoys
- 11 Polar Plunges and 5K Polar Struts
- 38 years of Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run
- 52 Tip A Cop or Cops on Top Fundraising Events
- 53 Ceremonial/Signature Community Torch Runs
- 1,185 miles ran in ceremonial Torch Runs in Kansas
- 1,993 Kansas Law Enforcement Officers participating
- 24,413 medals and ribbons presented by Kansas LETR to SOKS athletes
- Record breaking $664,050.38 in funds raised and donated to SOKS
- Countless high fives and smiles!
Click the tabs below to see the total amount raised by Law Enforcement Agencies throughout Kansas in 2019.
- Leawood Police Department $36,636.45
- Topeka Police Department $33,975.45
- Merriam Police Department $32,891.35
- Shawnee Police Department $32,699.38
- Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office $23,839.00
- Pittsburg Police Department $23,533.86
- Johnson County Sheriff’s Office $23,162.45
- Ottawa Police Department $17,766.50
- Prairie Village Police Department $14,666.70
- Wichita Police Department $14,584.41
- Salina Police Department $13,252.48
- Lyon County Sheriff’s Office $13,182.43
- Olathe Police Department $12,583.89
- Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office $12,288.33
- Lawrence Police Department $11,711.93
- Emporia Police Department $11,485.97
- Reno County Sheriff’s Office $10,957.16
- Riley County Police Department $10,455.64
- Lenexa Police Department $9,462.95
- Junction City Police Department $8,759.20
- Johnson County Park Police Department $7,766.50
- Douglas County Sheriff’s Office $7,196.45
- Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office $7,193.00
- Butler County Sheriff’s Office $6,892.92
- Meade Police Department $6,750.00
- Kansas Highway Patrol $6,500.00
- Gray County Sheriff’s Office $5,860.00
- Logan County Sheriff’s Office $5,500.00
- Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office $5,500.00
- Goodland Police Department $5,493.00
- Colby Police Department $5,493.00
- Oakley Police Department $4,500.00
- Sherman County Sheriff’s Office $4,500.00
- Thomas County Sheriff’s Office $4,500.00
- Dodge City Police Department $4,500.00
- Ford County Sheriff’s Office $4,500.00
- Garden City Police Department $4,244.74
- Saline County Sheriff’s Office $3,700.00
- Kansas City, KS Police Department $3,696.45
- Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office $3,600.00
- Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office $3,500.00
- Atwood Police Department $3,500.00
- Haysville Police Department $3,500.00
- Graham County Sheriff’s Office $3,400.00
- Finney County Sheriff’s Office $3,000.73
- Augusta Police Department $2,950.00
- Andover Police Department $2,700.00
- McConnell AFB $2,700.00
- Larned Mental Health Correctional Facility $2,650.00
- El Dorado Correctional Facility $2,500.00
- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks $2,400.00
- Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office $2,350.00
- Maize Police Department $2,160.00
- McPherson County Sheriff’s Office $2,150.00
- Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office $2,100.10
- Ellsworth Correctional Facility $2,035.00
- Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office $2,000.00
Throwback
Top Raisers, Past Winners, & Unsung Heroes
Top Fundraisers
2019
Top Guns
2018
Top Guns
2017
Top Guns
2016
Top Guns
2015
Top Guns
2014
Top Guns
2013
Top Guns
2012
Top Guns
2011
Top Guns
2010
Top Guns
2009
Top Guns
2008
Top Guns
2007
Top Guns
2006
Top Guns
2005
Top Guns
RICHARD LAMUNYON HALL OF FAME
The Richard LaMunyon Torch Run Hall of Fame was created to recognize outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed to the statewide success of the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting Special Olympics. The winner’s involvement must demonstrate a sustained and significant contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run. The minimum requirements for this award are at least five (5) years of participation with the Kansas Torch Run, outstanding achievement in program development, organization and fundraising success.
Congratulations to the 2019 Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame winner Joni Showalter. Joni engaged the communities in NW Kansas to embrace SOKS, our mission, and our athletes! She led the highest fundraising LETR Region per capita for 5 consecutive years and engaged 85% of the counties within her Region. She started the Goodland Mustangs Local Program team when she realized there were potential athletes in Goodland without a team. She was responsible for creating and hosting the first “Community Torch Run” in Kansas. Serving as the leader in our new style of events.
PAST WINNERS
- 2019: Joni Showalter (Goodland Police Department)
- 2018: Jeremiah Waters (Merriam Police Department)
- 2017: David Nienstedt (Wichita Police Department)
- 2016: Adam Taylor (Prairie Village Police Department)
- 2015: Kristi Powell (Topeka Police Department)
- 2014: Christopher Moore (Pittsburg Police Department)
- 2013: John Koelsch (Lyon County Sheriff’s Office)
- 2012: Jeff Bragg (Olathe Police Department)
- 2011: Todd Martens (McPherson Police Department)
- 2010: Shawn Farris (Leawood Police Department)
- 2009: Mark Malick (Kansas Bureau of Investigations)
- 2008: Tim Burnett (Merriam Police Department)
- 2006: Sergeant Brad McCaffree (Wichita Police Department)
- 2005: William Lovewell (Hays Police Department)
- 2004: Mike Daniels (Merriam Police Department)
- 2003: Dean Harcrow (Hutchinson Police Department)
- 2002: Dennis Shaw (McPherson Police Department)
- 2001: Stephen Ragan (Kansas Highway Patrol)
- 2000: Robbie Davenport (Wichita Police Department)
- 1999: Tim Driscoll (St. John Police Department)
- 1998: Kevin Koster (Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office)
- 1997: Ron Puterbaugh (Ottawa Police Department)
- 1997: Lee Martinez (Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office)
- 1996: Lloyd Hamrick (Wichita Airport Authority)
- 1996: Walt Kuykendall (Wichita Police Department)
- 1996: Richard LaMunyon (Wichita Police Department)
JOHN CARION UNSUNG HERO AWARD
KANSAS UNSUNG HEROES
- 2014: Dennis Shaw (McPherson Police Department)
- 2011: Shawn Farris (Leawood Police Department)
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS KANSAS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
