Five of the seven Mantua police offices who participated in the Police Unity Tour gathered on May 12 at the end of the ride in Washington, D.C. The event to honor law-enforcement members who’ve died on duty began three days earlier in McCarson Park.
Seven Mantua officers recently participated in the Police Unity Tour, an 200-mile-plus bike ride that involves departments around the country to honor law-enforcement members who’ve died in the line of duty.
The three-day event ends at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The township officers – Lt. Brian Hauss; Lt. Drew Hayes; Det./Sgt. Rob Layton; Det./Cpl. Jeff Krieger; and officers Greg Sweeney, Alex Stewart and Andrew Glaser – began their journey on May 9 at McCarson Park and arrived at the memorial on May 12.
“The tour is a powerful tribute to law-enforcement officers who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Hauss, “and I was honored to take part in it. The ride itself covers over 200 miles, with each leg typically lasting more than 30 miles.
“Along the way, we made stops in Atlantic City, Lewes, Delaware and Annapolis, Maryland …” he added. “It’s a physically demanding ride, but also incredibly rewarding, not just for the cause, but for the camaraderie that builds among fellow officers in the department and riders from across the country.”
The journey raises funds to support the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s research into the deaths on duty of officers now and in the past. The fund conducts ceremonies and other events at the memorial and raises awareness of preventing police fatalities.
The event began in 1997, according to the Police Unity Tour’s website, and has since involved 2,300 members across nine chapters.
The ride concludes with a ceremony honoring those lost. This year, Mantua police and other participating departments honored 147 officers who died in the past year and the thousands who perished over the years.
“One of the most sobering aspects of the tour is meeting the survivors – the family members and loved ones of officers who lost their lives in the line of duty during the past year,” Hauss explained. “Their presence is a poignant reminder of why we ride.
“It’s one of the most profound and heartbreaking events I’ve ever been a part of,” he added, “a time to reflect, remember and honor those who are no longer with us.”
