Hilliard detective competes in Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy

HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Hilliard police officer is back home after a touching experience in Italy last month.

Detective Brandon Long was the only officer from Ohio to participate in the Special Olympics World Winter Games.

"It's life-changing, the opportunity to go, to interact with like-minded officers from around the world," Long said.

Long is the state director of the law enforcement torch run for Special Olympics Ohio. He has also served as a coach and advocate. 

"We had giant smiles on our faces," Long said. "Every town we ran through, we were high-fiving people."

Through his involvement, he is hoping to inspire his fellow officers and continue touching the lives of these athletes.

"Each team had an Italian officer," Long said. "Each team had an athlete. Our athlete, Jacob, was from New York. Our team leader was a trooper from Delaware. We had people from Missouri, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Canada."

His Special Olympics athlete and team captain was Jacob Babcock. Long said the international demonstration of inclusion, acceptance, and unity is an experience he'll remember forever.

"Special Olympics, I think is just a life-changing opportunity, when you get to hear from the athletes that are involved that maybe started and they were kind of in a shell, they were quiet, and it gave them a place to showcase their talents, their abilities," Long said.

For several days leading up to the games, Long was part of the law enforcement torch run team that ran through Italian mountain towns. The flame symbolizes courage, perseverance, and the inclusion movement taking place across the globe. 

"It started back in the early eighties and it's a movement that's just grown over time to a worldwide grassroots fundraiser," Long said. "We advocate for Special Olympics athletes. We include them, we lift them up, we cheer them on, and we raise money for them."

Long's team raised a record-breaking $351,000.

"Half the money that I raised actually comes back to Special Olympics, Ohio," Long said. "The other half stays with Special Olympics International. I know in Ohio that money goes to healthy athletes programs, it goes to sports programming, securing facilities, equipment."

It doesn't stop there though.

"There are programs within Special Olympics where athletes can be council members and leaders and learn how to advocate for themselves, others and just really giving them some awesome life skills and a voice to lift themselves up and everybody else in their community," Long said.

Long said seeing athletes from different backgrounds and nations come together in such a positive environment was nothing short of inspiring. 

"It was such a cool, cool chance to just really get to know everybody, to get to know how people operate in different countries, in different states, and learn from them and grow from them and see the athletes bond with the athletes, see the athletes in their interactions together," Long said. 

According to Long, it's all about advocating for inclusion and building stronger relationships between first responders and Special Olympics athletes.

"When you're around people like that, the energy is infectious, the attitude's, everybody lifts you up and it champions the cause," Long said. "It just makes you want to do more. You want to come back, and you want to get your hands dirty, and you want to figure out different ways to engage other agencies, to engage other officers. How can we raise more money? How we can touch the lives of different athletes?"

Now, Long is calling on his fellow officers to join the movement.

"If there's a game, a practice, anything in your community look up online in your community where Special Olympics is, try to find an opportunity to go out and engage with them," Long said. "The minute one of them talks to you, they give you a hug, anything like that, tell me that you don't want to be there awarding medals, running for them."

The law enforcement torch run for Special Olympics Ohio is in June. The torch will run through different agencies and cities in the state, before ending at Ohio Stadium to kick off the summer games competition. 

To get involved with Special Olympics Ohio, visit this link.