*Photos by Joe Bayona

PERTH AMBOY – Mayor Wilda Diaz and Chief of Police, Benjamin Ruiz welcomed the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg team members to the City of Perth Amboy on June 12, at the City Hall Circle, 260 High Street, Perth Amboy for a Torch Run Ceremony.

“I want to thank the Perth Amboy Police Department and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for their fundraising efforts and for their community support. On behalf of the City of Perth Amboy, I want to also give a warm welcome and best wishes to Adam Fleissner at the 2014 Olympic Games,” said Mayor Wilda Diaz.

The Perth Amboy Police Department has supported the Law Enforcement Torch Run since 1995 and in the past ten years they have raised over $40K.  Perth Amboy was selected as the only city in all of Middlesex County for their torch run visit.

“The Police Department is committed to the Special Olympic athletes in the City of Perth Amboy and in the State of New Jersey to allow them to compete at their fullest potential, at no cost,” said Chief Benjamin Ruiz.

Visiting members of “Team Three” include, Torch Runner Deputy Harvey Ballman of Kootenai County, Idaho and Special Olympics Athlete, Adam Fleissner of Cranford, New Jersey as they make their final stop at Perth Amboy on Thursday.

ABOUT ADAM FLEISSNER – Adam Fleissner is the youngest member of the Final Leg team, being just 18 years of age. He lives in Cranford, New Jersey which is a few miles south west of Newark with his parents and sister. He is an active Special Olympics athlete, competing in Soccer, Swimming and Basketball. He has won Gold medals in all three disciplines, and his Soccer team has been undefeated for the past two seasons. Adam enjoys watching WWE wrestling and playing electronic games. He is reputed to have a great sense of humor.

ABOUT HARVEY BALLMAN – Deputy Harvey Ballman is currently employed with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s office as a Patrol Deputy. He is also an active member of the SWAT team and the county’s Criminal Interdiction Unit. Deputy Ballman also served over eight years in the United States Marine Corps both active and reserve. Deputy Ballman has been involved in, and/or has supported multiple Special Olympics events since the start of his law enforcement career in 2011.

ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN – The 2014 USA Games provides an incredible opportunity for athletes to travel to New Jersey to embrace the Olympic ideal, display their talents and abilities, and to compete against other athletes from around the country. It will undoubtedly be an amazing and historic event that will leave an indelible mark on everyone associated with the USA Games!

As an important part of the USA Games, the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg® for Special Olympics will heighten awareness and take the message of Special Olympics to every corner of New Jersey and around the country. Law Enforcement officials and Special Olympics athletes, unified together as a part of the Final Leg Team, will serve as true Guardians of the Flame™ and promote the powerful messages of inclusion, acceptance, and ability every step of our Final Leg journey to promote the 2014 USA Games.

For additional information about the 2014 Special Olympics visit, https://www.2014specialolympics.org/ and for the Law enforcement Torch Run visit: http://www.letr-finalleg.org/page36/index.html

– News Release 6/12/14