Northampton County Sheriff’s Office participates in Law Enforcement Torch Run

By Ava Canade

The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office participated in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Virginia during the morning of June 4th, 2025.

19 Law Enforcement Officers and 11 seniors from Northampton High School ran through Exmore, Nassawadox, Eastville, Cheriton, Cape Charles, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to raise money and spread awareness for Special Olympics Virginia.

The Sheriff’s Office receives donations from individuals and local businesses that go towards supporting athletes who compete in the Summer Games hosted in Richmond from June 6-7th, 2025.

David Doughty, Sheriff of Northampton County, explained the significance of the run.

“It’s a way for the Law Enforcement Community to come together to carry the Flame of Hope across Virginia which ends with the final leg and the lighting of the cauldron which officially opens the Summer Games in Richmond,” he said. “There are over 2000 Law Enforcement Officers representing more than 300 Agencies that participate in the 8-day run.”

He added that the Northampton County run is often scheduled alongside the Virginia Beach Police Department and Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office’s runs in order to pass the torch from Northampton County to Virginia Beach.

More information about Special Olympics Virginia can be found at https://www.specialolympicsva.org/ .