TALLAHASSEE. Fla.- Tallahassee Police Department is set to join the Police Unity Tour this year.
The Police Unity Tour takes place each year. Hundreds of law enforcement officers ride 250 miles to Washington, D.C. to show their support for fallen officers and their families.
Organized in May 1997 by Officer Patrick P. Montuore of the Florham Park Police Department, the hope is to bring public awareness of Police Officers who died in the line of duty and to honor the sacrifices each officer made during his time with law enforcement.
It started with just 18 riders on a four day fundraising bicycle ride to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which raised $18,000. Today the tour has over 2200 members nationwide who participate in the trip annually.
According to the Police Unity Tour’s website, the organization was able to donate over 2.3 million dollars to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund this past May. That brings the total donated since 1997 to 20 million dollars.
The Police Unity Tour pledged $5 million in support to the National Law Enforcement Museum in late 2005.
The tour is split into chapters. The Florida chapter began in 2004 with 12 riders and multiple support personnel and joined with Virginia’s Chapter IV. This year they rode over 240 miles from Portsmouth, VA to Washington, D.C. to deliver the raised funds.
Citizens can become a member of the Police Unity Tour or they can sponsor a rider. The information in on the PUT’s website.
As Tallahassee Officers get ready to take part in this years ride, a local business is showing their support in the tour as well. The Flying Bear Restaurant on Thomasville Rad will be backing up the officers by donating half of all of its sales on Thursday to help raise funds.
The Flying Bear’s GM, Evan Michael, told WCTV that “they need help. I think that with everything that’s going on in the world there needs to be more unity in general more compassion and I think everyone is more willing to help.”
The Flying Bear will be open for lunch and dinner on Thursday, August 4th.
