Ten members of Benicia Police Department, including Chief Erik Upson, joined Special Olympics athletes in carrying the Special Olympics torch Wednesday morning from Alvarez Ninth Street Park through the Benicia State Recreational Area.

Upson carried the torch during the last sprint of the run, handing the hefty metal cone to Vallejo police Capt. Lee Horton, who with Officers Jason Bauer and Dynelle Jones and the participating athletes shared the torch on the next segment of the run, which took the flame to the Vallejo Ferry Building. Solano County Sheriff’s Department deputies picked up the torch there.

In fact, before the torch arrives in Davis on Friday for the Special Olympics Northern California 2015 Summer Games, representatives of every Solano County law enforcement agency, including California Highway Patrol, will have participated in the law Enforcement Torch Run.

Volunteer coordinator Patty Baron said this is the first year each Solano County law enforcement agency has sent volunteers for the run.

The torch run has expanded into 35 countries and is a major fundraiser for Special Olympics since it was started in 1981 by Wichita, Kan., Police Chief Richard LaMunyon as a way to get his officers involved in his community.

Benicia Lts. Mike Greene, Frank Hartig and Scott Przekurat, Officers Fred Ayala and MarJonne Roberson, dispatchers Amanda Donohue and Ondriea Perino, evidence technician Laura Williams and information technology analyst Sandy Ayala joined Upson in making the run. They were accompanied by some of the athletes who will be competing in Davis this weekend.

They had trouble keeping up with Erick Silva, 21, a Fairfield Special Olympics athlete who laughed and high-fived the officers as they passed the torch.

Silva has been competing for 10 years, specializing in track and field, his father Ron Silva said.

“This means everything,” said Ron Silva, who coaches swimming, softball and basketball in addition to track. “I’ve been coaching 10 years. This is a big part of our family — it’s our second family.”

Horton said Vallejo police participate every year. “It’s a chance for us to connect,” he said. “These kids have a special place in law enforcement hearts.” He is a runner himself, logging nine to 10 miles each week. He faced a run of more than five miles from Benicia to the ferry building.

“The younger officers are in shape. I’ll try to keep up!”

Jones, who participated last year, said the Vallejo officers expected to sprint the final stretch of their run.

For Upson, it’s his first time to carry the torch for Benicia. But while he worked at Berkeley Police Department, he was a volunteer torch carrier there.

“This inspires me. You watch the joy in these kids — it’s great,” he said. “Erick (Silva) is inspiring everybody!”

He admitted the torch can get pretty heavy during the run. Bearers often need to switch hands before they share the carrying privilege with others, he said.

Besides being a visual reminder of the importance of Special Olympics and a way law enforcement officers can reach out to other segments of their community, the torch run also is a way to urge police agencies and other members of the public to donate, Upson said.

“I think law enforcement is the largest fundraiser for Special Olympics,” he said. “We do a lot of fundraising all through the year. But you can go to their website and sponsor athletes and donate.

“You watch one event, and you’ll be inspired to support Special Olympics.”

This won’t be the only time this year Benicians see a Special Olympics torch go through town. The city also will be part of the July 14 leg of the torch run preceding the World Games that start July 25 in Los Angeles. That torch will have traveled to California from New York.

Those interested in contributing to Special Olympics Northern California can visit its website, www.sonc.org/sports/summer-games, which also has a schedule of events.

The Special Olympics torch is expected to arrive at the games’ venue, the University of California-Davis campus, about 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Opening ceremonies at Aggie Soccer Stadium will start at 7 p.m. Friday. Competition starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and includes track and field, bocce, tennis and aquatics.