Deputies are on the run, but they’re not chasing any bad guys.

They’re running to remember those who are no longer at their side.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department 2009 Memorial Torch Relay began this morning when runners left the Sherman Block Sheriff’s Headquarters building to start a 339 mile journey.

The run will continue through the night Friday and Saturday, touching every mainland Sheriff’s station before concluding Sunday night. The torch carried by the runners, bikers, walkers and joggers will be used to light another torch at the 40th annual Los Angeles County Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday at the STARS Center in Whittier. Sheriff Lee Baca will preside over the event.

The run commemorates the sacrifice of officers who died in the line of duty over the last year and include:

Deputy Juan Escalante, LASD, End of Watch Aug. 2, 2008

Officer Spree DeSha, LAPD, EOW Sept. 12, 2008

Deputy Randy J. Hamson, LASD (Santa Clarita Station), EOW Oct. 24, 2008

Officer Joseph P. Sanders, CHP (Santa Fe Springs), EOW Dec. 15, 2008

Lt. Curtis A. Massey, Culver City Police Dept., EOW Jan. 28, 2009

The Santa Clarita legs of the run will cover 25.7 miles.  The first leg is scheduled to begin at 6:55 p.m. tonight at The Old Road and Pico Canyon Road (passing the memorial to fallen Deputy Jake Kuredjian) and will end at the Santa Clarita Station.

Santa Clarita Station personnel will run four additional legs: from the station on Magic Mountain Parkway, turning north on Valencia Boulevard and following Soledad Canyon Road to Sierra Highway in Palmdale. Their estimated completion time is 11:25 P.M..