National Police Week is nearing and the cyclists are on their way.
Washington D.C.: The Police Unity Tour, where law enforcement cyclists take on an exhaustive four-day trek and cover hundreds of miles; is nearly complete. The long trip concludes at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.. Upon their arrival, supporters, family members, and volunteers will greet them and a host of ceremonies will take place as they kick off National Police Week.
The National Police Week in Washington, D.C., honors and pays tribute to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It is a week-long event held annually in May, typically the week that includes May 15th, the National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
The History
The National Police Week website explained the history of this important occasion: “In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
It continues: “The Memorial Service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Decades later, the event, more commonly known as National Police Week, has grown to a series of events which attracts thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to our Nation’s Capital each year.”
The week also serves as a time to recognize and appreciate the dedication, bravery, and professionalism of law enforcement officers across the nation. It highlights their commitment to public safety and acknowledges the risks they face every day while carrying out their duties.
It also provides comfort and support to surviving family members of fallen officers by hosting a number of ceremonies, vigils, and other similar supportive acts.
An Important Message of Support
“My husband lost his life in the line of duty. He was a husband, father, brother, and a role model within our family and we miss him dearly. We’ve been coming to this event ever since his passing. It’s comforting to spend time with other spouses who are in the same position as me. But I also take this opportunity to reach out and comfort other spouses who are here for the first time, for the same reason,” a surviving spouse, who wished to remain anonymous, exclusively told LET.
She continued, “If you are a surviving spouse of a fallen officer, we urge you to attend National Police Week. We’ve been there and understand what you’re going through. You won’t be alone here.” One of the most important organizations that support families of the fallen is COPS, Concerns of Police Survivors.
According to their website: “Each year, between 140 and 160 officers die in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope. C.O.P.S. provides resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives. There is no membership fee to join C.O.P.S., for the price paid is already too high.”
The Police Unity Tour
The Police Unity Tour started out in 1997 as a small group of 18 law enforcement officers from New Jersey who decided to put together the four-day, 300-mile bike ride to D.C. leading up to Police Week. Since then it has grown to nine individual chapters consisting of 2,600 members nationwide who all committed to riding to D.C. this week.
Last year, the Police Unity Tour raised an astounding $2 million, which is donated to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. It brought its total donations to more than $33 million since its inception.
But it’s not the only bike tour this week. The Back the Blue bike tour is in its third year. Pete Hegseth, a Fox News analyst interviewed a Back the Blue bike tour participant in Washington D.C., Rob Wright, a retired Police Lieutenant. Retired LT. Wright told Fox News, “I did 27 years in law enforcement in Northern New Jersey and it was a great experience. And especially in today’s times… defund the police and all, this is really huge for police departments and law enforcement in general.” He continued, “There’s 22,000 names on the wall right down the street. Those are the people that gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms here in the United States.”
Visit the National Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial website and consider donating to the Police Unity Tour which supports them.
Check out the Police Unity Tour video below.
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