LAPLACE — The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office has planned two events to honor National Police Week, and the public is invited to take part in the commemorative festivities.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.

A Candlelight Vigil and Law Enforcement Torch Run have been planned locally to observe the week.

Sheriff Mike Tregre will host a Candlelight Vigil to remember fallen police officers at 7 p.m. Wednesday on the front lawn of the Percy Hebert Building, and on Friday runners and bikers are invited to join as the Sheriff’s Office holds the Louisiana Law Enforcement Torch Run.

The eight-mile event will begin at 8:30 a.m., with plans to assemble at LaPlace’s Frostop between 7:30-8:30 a.m. for registration, coffee, juice and energy snacks.

Greg Maurin said this is the 30th year the parish has held the run, in which all proceeds benefit Special Olympics Louisiana. He said the run is not a race and all are invited to join in or cheer on participants as they journey.

The run route will begin at Airline Motors and journey to Main Street, where participants will trek down West 5th Street.

Maurin said the run will slow down in front of John L. Ory and St. Joan of Arc schools, where children traditionally line the street with signs and revel in the chance to see the flashing lights of police cars and fire trucks.

The run will journey across streets in LaPlace and Reserve, ending at the St. Peter Church parking lot. Maurin said the run should take approximately two hours.

Once the run in complete, Maurin said participants will be shuttled back to Frostop.

A post-run celebration with games, food and drinks will be held at Frenier Landing.

For more information or to register, contact Maurin at 985-703-0917 or Cindy Faucheux at 985-359-8744.