The Manchester Police Department announced on Monday their involvement in raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics. Chief Mark Yother is the chairman of a group of chiefs that are working together on this project.
Yother’s daughter Ami Shedd works in the special needs department at Westwood.
Yother explained that a torch run will take place all across the state, beginning in East Tennessee. Former Nashville Police Chief Joe Casey requested that police chiefs across the state bring recognition to these special athletes. Chief “Yogi” Yother is coordinating the run and has challenged all Chiefs across the state to contribute a minimum of $100 and officers to donate at least $10. Click below for Yother’s statement:
Casey spent 16 years as the Nashville chief and 38 years with the department and Special Olympics is something he feels strongly about.
A ceremony was held at Westwood Elementary Monday morning to jump start the torch run.
Top picture: L-R front: Director of Schools in Manchester, Dr Joey Vaughn, Ami Shedd, Chief Mark Yother and Manchester Mayor Marilyn Howard. In the back are Manchester officers, K-9, Investigators and Assistant Chief Adam Floied. Pictures by Joe Abraham and Christina Marin