For law enforcement in and around the Los Angeles area, the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay is a major event and time-honored tradition. Each year, police departments and sheriff’s stations spend months raising the thousands of dollars it takes to send 20-runner teams to compete in the grueling, desert traversing, 120-mile relay race, which begins north of Baker and ends the following day with a celebratory gathering in Las Vegas.
Participants train for months, following rigorous schedules as they prepare to compete alongside their peers in a spirited, friendly competition, each representing their agency with pride. This year’s race, held April 4–5, drew more than 250 teams.
But for one agency, the normally festive event ended in tragedy…