Police Unity Tour riders Retired Captain Paul Kofman, Officer Tyler Bevan, Officer Rebecca Kofman, Corporal Casey Sutherland, and Officer Greg Knupp to participate.
On May 10, 2020, Ventura Police Corporal Sutherland and Officers Bevan, Knupp, Kofman, and Reginato will join more than 2,500 law enforcement officers from throughout the country for the 24th Annual Police Unity Tour Memorial Ride. All participants will bicycle along varying routes, each nearly 300 miles, to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. This year, the Police Unity Tour- Southern California Chapter will have over 400 police officers representing California Highway patrol, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and police departments from Alhambra, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Los Angeles, Palos Verdes Estates, Pasadena, and Ventura.
On May 13, 2020, the team will join over 50,000 people at the National Law Enforcement Memorial Candlelight Vigil. During the ceremony, the names of every officer who died in the line of duty in 2019 will be read and his/her name officially added to the Memorial, which already contains the names of over 21,000 fallen heroes.
The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness about the police officers who have died in the line of duty. The Police Unity Tour’s motto is, “We Ride For Those Who Died.” The funds raised for this event will go towards the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Since its’ inception in 1997, the Police Unity Tour has raised over $25 million to support the Memorial. It is because of the incredible level of support from various communities that officers are able to participate in the 2020 Police Unity Tour and ensure that the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice are not forgotten.
Corporal Casey Sutherland has been leading VPD’s team for the past six years. “I ride because many years ago, an L.A. County Deputy and high school friend of mine was killed in the line of duty. I have carried his memory with me my entire career,” said Corporal Sutherland. “I learned about the Tour from a co-worker who had ridden previously and once I rode in my first tour, I was hooked. It’s an amazing way to honor those officers and their surviving family members and I’m proud to be a small part of it.”
For more information about the Police Unity Tour Southern California Chapter, please visit www.socalput.com. All donations to the Police Unity Tour are tax deductible (Tax ID#22-353-541).
