Fort Collins, COLO. – About 1,600 miles away, all the way in Franklin Township, New Jersey, Colorado law enforcement officers are making good on a promise.
“It truly is my honor to do something like this,” said Fort Collins Police Officer, Dave Lindsay.
Lindsay is one of 20 officers riding for Team Colorado in this year’s Police Unity Tour which kicks off Police Week. They will ride nearly 300 miles from New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington D.C. where they will meet families of the fallen officers for whom they ride.
“This is Lt. Corey Dahlem, April 2007. It’s got a badge number and his picture on it,” said Ft. Collins Officer Casey Box said, pointing to the memorial bracelet he’ll wear in the ride.
“This year I’ll be riding on behalf of Sgt. David Baldwin, who was the motorcycle traffic sergeant, who worked for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, who was killed by a careless driver last year,” Lindsay said.
The Police Unity Tour was organized in 1997 to raise awareness about police officers who have died in the line of duty. It raises funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum. This year, the Colorado team raised nearly $40,000 for the cause.
“They donate [the money] directly to the memorial to maintain the memorial and serve as a final resting place so families can come out and see where their loved ones are,” Lindsay said.
Families, like Heather Tharp and her teenage daughter. In 2010, Tharp’s husband, Weld County Deputy Sam Brownlee was killed in a shootout. This year, Fort Collins Police officer, Maureen Noe will ride for him. – read complete article –
