The Grottoes Police Department will host a memorial run in honor of Officers John Painter and Vashon “J.J.” Jefferson on Friday, March 11. The one-way course will start at the Grottoes Police Department at 10:00 a.m. and conclude at Bridgewater College’s Police Department.
The Dynamic Duo Journey, named for the friendship between Painter and Jefferson, is open for both runners and cyclists to cover the 15-mile course, reflective of the path Painter took after serving 18 years as Grottoes’ Chief of Police before serving as an officer at Bridgewater College beginning in 2018.
Officer T.J. Travis Hooker Dayton Police Department and Mike Betts (Grottoes resident) will run the course carrying the American and the Thin Blue Line flags. Organizers anticipate around a dozen participants to run (or cycle) the whole course. Individuals are also welcome to run or cycle various segments of the journey.
To borrow a baseball term, Hooker & Betts will serve as “designated runners” for Painter & Jefferson. The course, which is outlined below, will take participants over mostly rural roads between the two towns. Both the Grottoes and Bridgewater Police Departments will assist with the escort, at the start and finish, respectively. The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department is planning to escort the contingent. The department will provide a support vehicle for with water & supplies, and for runners needing a break; they are also planning to bring runners back to Grottoes.
Runners and cyclists are welcome to join them on this “non-event” event. The running pace will be around a 10:30 plus minute mile. We will stop as needed (traffic, crossing streets, breaks, etc.) Anyone may participate for all or various segments of this journey.
Dynamic Duo Journey Course
Start on 6th Street (near Dogwood),
Left on Holly,
Right on 256 (Weyers Cave Rd.),
Right on Circle Lane,
Right on Bingham (gravel road along the river),
Right on Lee Roy,
Left on E. Timber Ridge,
Left on Scotts Ford,
Right on Cross Keys,
Left on Faughts,
Left on Koiner,
Right on Fairview (eventually becomes North River Rd.),
Cross over Hwy. 11 in Mount Crawford,
Continue straight on Old Bridgewater Rd. (name change in Mt. Crawford),
Left on Dinkel
Left on College View Drive (then ends at the BC PD).
End of course.