MONROE — When several hundred people gather Sunday for the annual Jayme Biendl memorial run, a few could be weighed down.
And that’s the way they want it.
Sgt. Troy Brightbill of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office and Sgt. Eric Bunday of the Hillsboro, Oregon, Police Department plan to run the 5-kilometer course in full uniform.
By one estimate, that’s about 25 pounds of gear.
“They threw out a challenge to officers to participate in full uniform,” Monroe police Sgt. Cindy Chessie said.
The event marks the fourth anniversary of Biendl’s death.
The correctional officer, 34, died in the line of duty at the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe on Jan. 29, 2011. She was found strangled at her post in the prison chapel after her shift had ended. Inmate Byron Scherf, 56, was convicted of aggravated first-degree murder and is on death row.
The run — and for those who choose, a leisurely walk — is meant to celebrate the friend and co-worker Biendl was to many people, as well as her public service, organizers say. It is designed to be family friendly with dogs on leashes and babies in strollers welcome.
Members of Biendl’s family are expected to participate, as they have in the past.
Chessie said Sunday’s run should include about 400 people, roughly the number that showed up the first year.
Any money made from the event will go to the Behind the Badge Foundation to help law enforcement families in their time of need.
The event is from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday beginning and ending at Monroe’s Sky River Park, 818 Village Way.
Registration is $30 but there is no guarantee of a shirt for those signing up on race day.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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