The life of a first responder. It's dangerous and scary, but it's also rewarding. With the troubles they have on the job, plus the criticism they get from the public, why do they do what they do? What makes it worth it? This is 'The Life Of A First...
Police Unity Tour. "WE RIDE FOR THOSE WHO DIED" is their motto. The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. The secondary purpose is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial and Museum.
They started with 18 riders on a four day fund-raising bicycle ride from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. which raised $18,000.00. Every May since 1997 riders all over the country have participated in a four-day ride from the 9/11 memorial to Washington D.C.
This year (2016) Hernandez Thomas, who recently retired from the city's force, has made his 19th trip for the annual Police Unity Tour.
"It's a very grueling 320-mile ride, but the cause it is for is unbelievable," Thomas said before departing from Newark. "After 19 years, I still get the butterflies in my stomach, I still get the goose bumps and I still get teary-eyed."
Thomas said that the riders see strong support as they pedal to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. "It's something that you never forget if you do this ride," he added.
Hundreds of riders stopped Monday for a ceremony at Newark's fallen officers memorial on Franklin Street, where families of those who died, law enforcement officers from around the area and city police brass, joined them.
"They're [riders] going to be wet, they're going to be cold, they're going to be sweaty, they're going to be tired, but every pedal is going to the 128 police officers, who went to work last year and never came back," Ambrose said.
Several family members of fallen Newark police also attended the ceremony, including the mother of Detective Michael Morgan, Jr., who was gunned-down as he tried to stop a robbery in Paterson.
Additionally, the ceremony recognized family members of Detective Thomas S. Adubato, who was killed Aug. 17, 1918 as he tried to arrest a murder suspect. Despite his own wounds, the detective carried another detective who was shot down five flights of stairs to safety. Newark Fraternal Order of Police President James Stewart Jr. said the ride helped show support for the families of fallen officers.
"We're here with them," Stewart said as he prepared for the ride. "We want them to know they're not going through this alone."
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This year New Jersey police officers who biked 320 miles as part of the Police Unity Tour stopped to cook for homeless people in Washington, D.C. before a ceremony honoring fallen officers, the department said Saturday.
Retired Corporal John Weg, Sgt. Joe Markulic, and Officers Maureen McBride and Mike Silvani along with others were enjoying a break before the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony when they set to work cooking meals for several homeless people.
It felt great to see them smile," Markulic said in a facebook post. "Some of them came to our truck as we cooked and the rest we met at a local park."
Chief Andrew Kudrick said he was "very proud" of his officers. "Howell officers leave a positive impact and impression wherever they go," the chief wrote on Facebook.
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To find out more about Police Unity Tour, visit their website at policeunitytour.com
