By Police1 Staff
WASHINGTON — What began with 18 riders in 1997 as a four-day fundraising bike ride to honor fallen police officers has grown to over 2,200 riders.
According to the Police Unity Tour’s website, participants from nine chapters nationwide make the annual ride to Washington D.C. for Police Week to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 143 officers were killed in the line of duty in 2016.
“The unique thing about the ride is there’s no rank,” founder Pat Montoure told NJ 1015. “Whether you’re a captain, a sergeant, a patrol officer, a brand new person, a chief of police, a major, someone who is director of a federal agency or a special agent in charge, everyone is equal in this organization. We’re all officers with the same mission and goal.”
Over the past 20 years, the tour has donated over $20 million to the National Law Enforcement Museum’s Hall of Remembrance, NJ 1015 reported.
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