On May 12, 2,300 law enforcement personnel form across the nation will participate in the Police Unity Tour.

The Police Unity Tour is a bicycle tour to raise awareness for fallen peace officers and raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s memorial in Washington D.C.

Additional sheriff and police officials will join the tour to provide support for riders, making this one of the largest law enforcement events in the United States.

This year’s ride is especially memorable, as it will mark the event’s 20th anniversary.

The Police Unity Tour is the largest donor to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund.

Last year’s event raised over $1.9 million, which was donated to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund.

Since 1997, donations total nearly $18 million.

Funds received through donations go toward careful and respectful maintenance of the Memorial, which contains the names of over 20,000 fallen heroes.

It receives year-round care including re-engraving, coating and sealing of the names, as well as the cleaning of the walls and other memorial improvements.

The Police Unity Tour’s motto, which is simply stated, “We Ride For Those Who Died,” is just that: Law enforcement personnel joining together to complete a bicycle tour, raising awareness for their professional brothers and sisters who died in the line of duty, and raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.

It was organized in 1997, by Officer Patrick P. Montuore of the FlorhamPark Police Department, New Jersey and began with 18 riders on a four-day, fund-raising bicycle ride from Florham Park, New Jersey, to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

That event raised $18,000.

The Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII will have over 400 riders and supporters participating in the event.

On May 8, 2016, the group will fly with their equipment to Somerset, New Jersey, where they will begin the three-day, 280-mile journey through Philadelphia, Delaware and Maryland and complete their circuit in Washington D.C.

They will join other law enforcement officers from other Police Unity Tour Chapters across the United States as they ride into Washington D.C. to kick-off National Police Week.

Sheriff Jim McDonnell said, “2016 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Police Unity Tour, and the Department is proud to have assembled its largest group of participants for this noble cause to date.

Each member has invested hours of training to prepare for the challenging ride, and raised a commendable amount of donations to maintain our nation’s memorial for fallen law enforcement officers.

Their efforts have raised the public’s awareness and appreciation for all law enforcement officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe.”

The Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII group includes the following dedicated personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department:
Deputy Elizabeth Aguilera, East Los Angeles Station;
Sergeant Devon Akita, Inmate Reception Center;
Deputy Jose Arciga, Lakewood Station;
Sergeant Michael Austin, Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau;
Deputy Antoinette Bowen, Lakewood Station;
Reserve Deputy Jacob Castroll, Malibu/Lost Hills Station;
Deputy Aleshia Costello, Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center;
Lieutenant Steve Dodson, Court Services Central Bureau;
Deputy Maricela Dusky, Century Regional Detention Facility;
Deputy Pedro Echeverria, Parks Bureau;
Commander Kelley Fraser, South Patrol Division;
Deputy Miguel Fuentes, Operation Safe Streets Bureau;
Deputy Javier Gonzalez, Jr., Temple Station;
Commander Maria Gutierrez, Century Regional Detention Facility;
Deputy Craig Hathaway, Norwalk Courthouse;
Deputy Michael Herrera, Lakewood Station;
Deputy Scott Hutter, Emergency Vehicle Operations Center;
Deputy Luis Lezama, East Los Angeles Station;
Deputy Monica Malagon, Industry Station;
Stationary Engineer II Joey Manalaysay, Men’s Central Jail;
Sergeant Michael Moen, Inmate Reception Center;
Deputy John Moore, Emergency Vehicle Operations Center;
Sergeant Maria Nobles, Inmate Reception Center;
Deputy Mark Perez, Operation Safe Streets Bureau;
Deputy Sara Pineda, Stanley Mosk Courthouse;
Deputy Ramiro Ramos, Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court;
Deputy Evelyn Renderos, East Los Angeles Station;
Crime Analyst Rebecca Robbins, Scientific Services Bureau;
Deputy Michelle Roberts, Santa Clarita Valley Station;
Deputy Angel Rodriguez, Major Crimes Bureau;
Deputy Deborah Romero, County Services Bureau;
Deputy Joe Rosalez, Emergency Vehicle Operations Center;
Custody Assistant Marnie Saldecke, Inmate Reception Center;
Deputy Eliel Teixeira, Inmate Reception Center;
Deputy Lisa Villanueva, Pico Rivera Station;
Sergeant Robert Weber, Community Partnerships Bureau;
Deputy Robert Wilkinson, Santa Clarita Valley Station;
Lieutenant Hiroshi Yokoyama, North Patrol Division;
Deputy Alexander Zambrano, Temple Station.

If you would like to sponsor a rider or contribute to the Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII, click www.socalput.com or send your donation to:
Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII 23890 Copper Hill Drive, Suite 170, Valencia, CA 91354

All donations to the Police Unity Tour are tax deductible (Tax ID# 22-3530541).

For information about the Police Unity Tour please contact Media Relations Coordinator, Karin Storm, at storm@socalput.com or Chapter President Gil Curtis at curtis@socalput.com.

The Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII is on Facebook! View pictures and footage, get additional information and meet new friends at: https://www.facebook.com/Police-Unity-Tour-Southern-California-Chapter-VII-131591273533387/, or visit their website at www.socalput.com.

For more information about the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, please visit our website at www.lasd.org.