Employees Kick Asphalt in 120-Mile Race

A member of DA team running in the relay.

County law enforcement took off in hot pursuit of a different kind this month. Members of the District Attorney, Probation and Sheriff’s departments were not in a footrace chasing criminals, but competing in the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay run.

The 120-mile race, held the weekend of March 19-20, started north of Baker and traversed the desert out to Las Vegas. The annual fun run is all about fitness, camaraderie, teamwork and tradition.

The relay began in 1985 with 19 teams. The race now hosts 264 teams from across the U.S. and abroad, including our County competitors.

County Probation teammates smile during the race.

Deputy Chief Probation Officer Dan DeLeon said Probation participated in the relay for the 18th time this year. The department ran in the “mixed” division—where five of the 20 runners on the team had to be women, and all had to be sworn officers.  Probation’s team came in second place in their division and 24th place overall with a time of 15 hours, 26 minutes and 3 seconds.

Turn your speakers up and watch this Probation video.

The Sheriff's Department set a new "PR" or personal record as a team this year. They finished in 15 hours, 2 minutes and 6 seconds for an overall finish of 12th place. They ran in the open category for runners of any gender or age that are sworn personnel.

A Sheriff's Department teammate hands off the baton.

“We are getting better every year,” said Sheriff’s team captain Sgt. Denese Deal. “I enjoy the competitiveness, the comradery, the fact that it is all law enforcement, and that there is no prize other than bragging rights.”

The Sheriff's Department team

Meanwhile, the DA’s Office had two teams with 20 runners in each, among them DA investigators, deputy district attorneys and support staff.  Each team member ran between 4 and 10.7 miles.

The first DA Team finished 226th place overall with a time of 19 hours, 49 minutes and 40 seconds. This team ran in the “Invitational Mixed” category, which includes at least five female and two non-sworn runners. 

A member of one of the DA's two teams.

The DA’s second team finished in 57th place overall with a time of 16 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds. They took second place in the category of “Invitational Mixed 800,” which includes a minimum of five female and two non-sworn runners with a combined age minimum of 800 years. See more photos from the DA teams here.

Other local law enforcement teams to participate in the race included the San Diego Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s San Diego sector, FBI’s San Diego bureau, Oceanside Police, Chula Vista Police, and California Highway Patrol out of Oceanside, Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations’ San Diego field office, and Carlsbad Police.