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Detroit Police Chief lights cauldron during Special Olympics Opening Ceremony 

Chief Morin and his patrol car alongside a SOMI athlete.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Police Chief Joe Morin list of professional accomplishments is long. However, his proudest is serving as a leader for the Michigan Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for more than a decade. 

To Morin, serving as a torch bearer for the LETR Flame of Hope is a regular occurrence. However, his latest mission to raise awareness for the athletes for Special Olympics reached an international audience. The Chief was invited to light the cauldron, a visual symbol of the start of the competition, for the Special Olympics Unified Cup Detroit 2022. 

“I will never forget the moment the flame jumped from the torch to the cauldron, being able to share that moment with athletes, Unified partners, and my law enforcement peers was very special,” said Morin, who currently sits on the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Executive Committee. 

The Unified Cup brought more 300 football (soccer) players from more than 20 nations to Detroit. The athletes, consisting of players with and without intellectual disabilities, participated in an international showcase to inspire a sense of competition while tearing down the long-standing social stigma of intellectual disability.    

Detroit Police Chief lights cauldron during Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies 

Morin serves as the tactical operations chief for the Port of Detroit and he has volunteered with Special Olympics for 13 years. He was selected for the occasion as a bridge between law enforcement and the communities they serve. 

“Watching these athletes compete and grow within this organization is something that never gets old, it is an honor to be able to work with them and serve the community through Special Olympics Michigan,” said Morin.