Police Unity Tour

19- Feb. -2013
   On Monday night  the Bogota - Ridgefield Park chapter of the  the Police Unity Tour held a dinner at the Westside Tavern in Ridgefield Park. This was a fundraiser for the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial and Museum, which is located in Washington DC. Bogota Police Chief John Burke, one of the riders, spoke of how each year they dedicate a ride to a recently fallen Officer last year was and Officer from neighboring Teaneck NJ. Chief Burke relaid a story about the Officers Mother who was apprehensive about being at the Memorial in Washington. He later told of how he of how the experience of visiting the Memorial and seeing all of the support from the large number of people who are apart of this event helped her with the loss of her son.
 Ridgefield Park Officer  Brain Hippe talked about follow Officers who are a part of the tour  and the support they get at events like the one on Monday. Then PUT President John Jedrejczyk   told about how the tour started in 1997 in Florham Park with 18 riders in order to bring awareness of Police Officers who have been lost in the line of duty to the public. This first ride raised about $18,000 for the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial. This year Mr. Jedrejczyk is expecting over 1,800 riders from all parts of the United States, as well as, from overseas. Mr. Jedrejczyk estimates that since the tour began a total of 15 million dollars has been raise for  the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial and Museum, which goes to the upkeep of the Memorial, but also the construction of the Museum which is planning to open in 2015.
   Their next ride will start on  Thursday 9-May 2013 in East Hanover, NJ and is scheduled to be in Washington DC on Sunday 12- May.
 For more information about the Police Unity Tour  please go to www.policeunitytour.com

Bogota Police Chief Jon Burke talking with Ridgefield Park Mayor George Fosdick

Chris Choi (L) and Chief  John Burke

Bettina Fowler buying  raffle tickets from Shannon

 Shannon & Erin Fowler

 Chief Burke  talking about last years ride.

Brain Hippe  addressing the crowd.

John Jedrejczyk talking about the history of the police Unity Tour.