Police Officer turned DPH Investigations Supervisor has Strong Connection to Special Olympics

DPH Office of the Inspector General Investigations Supervisor Mike Pearson, athlete Tina Ryleigh, and  Investigator Marc Williams gather for a picture at the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Indoor Winter Games for Special Olympics Georgia.

To look at Mike Pearson, you might be a little intimidated. After all, he did spend 25 years as a police officer with the Gwinnett County Police Department. But Pearson, who, after retiring from the police force, became an investigations supervisor with the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of the Inspector General, has a soft side. For 22 years, he has volunteered with the Special Olympics of Georgia.

Pearson participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) 2012 Indoor Winter Games for Special Olympics of Georgia Opening Ceremony that took place January 20 at the Cobb County Civic Center. Over 1,500 Georgia athletes competed in six different sports: artistic gymnastics, bowling, floor hockey, basketball, power lifting and roller skating during the three day event.

The LETR is a running event in which law enforcement officers and Special Olympic athletes carry the Flame of Hope to the Opening Ceremony of local Special Olympics competitions, state/provincial Games and National Summer or Winter Games. During the opening ceremony of the Winter Games, the top five fundraising law enforcement agencies had the opportunity to carry the torch in a relay around Cobb Civic Center with other participants from law enforcement running with them. Pearson, along with Investigator Marc Williams, was one of those participants.

“I ran as a participant this year, representing the Office of the Inspector General and supporting the agencies that raised so much money in 2011,” said Pearson. “My goal for this year is to see the Office of the Inspector General of DPH carrying the torch as one of the top fundraisers.”

The top five fundraisers for 2011 were:
1. Johns Creek Police Department
2. Georgia Department of Corrections
3. Marietta Police Department
4. MARTA Police Department
5. Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office

Every two years, law enforcement officers from around the world gather to carry the Flame of Hope in a Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg in honor of the Special Olympics World Summer or World Winter Games. Pearson was selected to represent the Georgia Law Enforcement Torch Run in the 2003 Athens to Dublin Final Leg of the Special Olympics World Summer games.

The LETR has evolved, over the years, to a year-round fundraising effort. LETR merchandise is sold and officers participate in various fundraisers such as COPS on Doughnut Shop, Polar Plunge, Cuffed for a Cause, Tip a Cop, Golf Tournaments, Motorcycle Rides and many other events. Last year, over 1,000 law enforcement officers raised over $690,000 over through LETR events.

In Georgia, the Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest annual fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Georgia. “It costs close to $900,000 each year to put on the five state-wide Special Olympic events,” said Danny Knight, Special Olympics Georgia Regional Manager. “That breaks down to about $100 per athlete, coach, and partner that we want to cover. The athletes do not have to pay to participate, so raising money to cover the costs associated with running the events, and housing and providing meals to the participants is incredibly important.”
“My involvement with Special Olympics of Georgia has truly defined human spirit for me and has added balance to myself and family,” explained Pearson who has been married to wife Connie for 30 years and has two daughters Tanya (29) and Rachel (26).
For information about Special Olympics Georgia, visit www.specialolympicsga.org.

 
-Story by Kimberly Stringer, DPH Communications

Home | Georgia's Go Red Campaign | Special Olympics | WIC Program Gets a New Look | Georgia Tobacco Quit Line | Healthier Lifestyle | Asthma Project | PHBRIEFS | PHRECIPE | PHTRAINING | PHEVENTS | PHNEWS