Special Olympics torch to come through College Station en route to Arlington

The flaming torch of the Special Olympics' Texas Summer Games will make its way through College Station today on its journey to Arlington.

Several dozen police officers from various Texas departments will help carry the torch, which is traditionally carried by law enforcement officers through towns that have made a recognized effort to fund raise for the Special Olympics. In 2017, Brazos County residents and law enforcement officials raised a record $30,835 for the Special Olympics through the Texas Roadhouse "Tip-a-Cop" event.

More than 90 officers from the Houston and South Texas area are carrying the Olympic torch north through Navasota to College Station. Once the torch reaches Texas Roadhouse in College Station just before 2 p.m., Brazos County law enforcement officers will present Special Olympics representatives with a check.

Local officials will then take time out of their day to run nearly two miles around College Station carrying the torch with the 90 traveling officers and some local athletes who will be competing in the Special Olympics. The traveling officers will then proceed to drive north with the torch toward the ultimate goal of reaching the site of the games at the University of Texas at Arlington on Friday.

Bryan Police Department Sgt. Jason James noted that he feels the Bryan-College Station community does an increasingly enthusiastic job of supporting the charity.

"Our community is very supportive of first responders, and this is such a fun event where people are able to interact with officers on a positive level," James said. "College Station is such a giving community when it comes to Tip-a-Cop."

Tip-A-Cop is an event traditionally hosted by Texas Roadhouse, though James noted Razoo's Cajun Cafe of College Station hosted their own Tip-a-Cop event this April that raised more than $4,000. The 2018 Texas Roadhouse national Tip-A-Cop event will be July 26 in College Station and as per usual, James and fellow organizers will extend Tip-A-Cop to a multi-day event.

Tip-A-Cop with College Station Texas Roadhouse will last from July 23 through July 26. Officers from the county and twin cities will act as assistant wait staff, and collect "tips" as donations for 2019's Special Olympics.

To learn more about the Special Olympics -- Texas, visit www.sotx.org/.