Officers take a journey of remembrance

Livingston hosts national Police Unity Tour

Sunday, May 01, 2005

BY ELIZABETH MOORE

Star-Ledger Staff

Some 270 police officers from across the nation will gather in Livingston next Sunday for an evening candlelight vigil before they leave the next morning to bicycle to Washington, D.C., as part of the annual Police Unity Tour.

The tour, now in its ninth year, commemorates officers who have died in the line of duty and raises money for the national Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington.

When the Livingston riders arrive at the nation's capital four days later, they will remember one of their own -- Lt. Michael J. Curley, who died while responding to a truck fire 40 years ago -- and whose name is being added to the memorial this year.

"It came as a surprise to us," said Rev. Augustine Curley of Newark, a Benedictine monk who is one of Michael Curley's children. "The police are always putting themselves on the line. It's nice to be honored when they died in the line of duty."

The Rev. Curley will be joined by his five remaining brothers and sisters who will be recognized at the Livingston vigil, which starts at the oval on South Livingston Avenue at 7 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the vigil, which also will include an antique police car show and refreshments. The Curleys also are traveling to Washington, though not on bicycle, to participate in a memorial service there.

The unity tour was started in New Jersey nine years ago by Florham Park Lt. Pat Montoure. He rode the first bicycle tour with just 17 other riders, each raising $1,000 in donations. Montoure said he wanted to raise money for the national memorial, which is not federally funded, to acknowledge the sacrifices made by officers and their families.

"It's a place to go to reflect on what their sacrifices are," he said of the memorial. "It also shows there is unity among law enforcement (officers)."

Livingston is serving as the host department and is organizing this year's ride from northern New Jersey, though there are other riders coming on different routes from South Jersey and Virginia.

The bicyclists will set off from Livingston and travel through West Orange, Orange, East Orange, Newark, and Jersey City, traveling through the Holland Tunnel before stopping at Ground Zero. The first day is a 60-mile ride with the officers stopping for the night in Woodbridge.

The three subsequent days involve riding about 100 miles each day, sleeping in hotels at night, and arriving in Washington on May 12, for a rendezvous at the Jefferson Memorial.

Livingston detective Debbie Shumaker, who is coordinating the tour with Sgt. Anthony Dippold, said between 650 and 700 riders are expected to join this year's tour. Each rider has raised $1,500, most of which will be donated to the Law Enforcement Memorial fund, which maintains the memorial site and is raising money for a law enforcement museum.

"It's an amazing thing," Shumaker said, describing the sight of the bicyclists, all in blue jerseys, riding into the nation's capital with a motorcycle escort. She and Dippold said spectators line the streets to watch the procession, often saluting as the officers ride by.

"It's a neat feeling; it brings a tear to your eye," she said. Dippold added that the riders -- some from as far away as California, Nevada, and New Hampshire -- forge friendships on the four-day trek to the capital, "There's definitely a bonding between police officers."

Organizers said they hope to exceed the $600,000 raised last year.

One of the officers participating in the tour this year is Craig White of the Los Angeles Police Department, a department with one of the highest officer loss rates in the nation. White will be one of 34 Californians riding in this year's tour.

White said being a part of the tour is a rewarding experience. "The first time they ride it, they get hooked," he said. "There is a camaraderie and you're meeting other officers from different parts of the country."

He said it is also a deeply moving experience. "You're thinking of the officers who are lost ... The first year, it brought me to tears."

More information about the tour can be found on the Web site www.PoliceUnityTour.com.

Elizabeth Moore covers West Essex. She can be reached at (973) 392-1852 or emoore@starledger.com.



Officers take a journey of remembrance Livingston hosts national Police Unity Tour Sunday, May 01, 2005 BY ELIZABETH MOORE Star-Ledger Staff Some 270 police officers from across the nation will gather in Livingston next Sunday for an evening candlelight vigil before they leave the next morning to bicycle to Washington, D.C., as part of the annual Police Unity Tour. The tour, now in its ninth year, commemorates officers who have died in the line of duty and raises money for the national Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington. When the Livingston riders arrive at the nation's capital four days later, they will remember one of their own -- Lt. Michael J. Curley, who died while responding to a truck fire 40 years ago -- and whose name is being added to the memorial this year. "It came as a surprise to us," said Rev. Augustine Curley of Newark, a Benedictine monk who is one of Michael Curley's children. "The police are always putting themselves on the line. It's nice to be honored when they died in the line of duty." The Rev. Curley will be joined by his five remaining brothers and sisters who will be recognized at the Livingston vigil, which starts at the oval on South Livingston Avenue at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend the vigil, which also will include an antique police car show and refreshments. The Curleys also are traveling to Washington, though not on bicycle, to participate in a memorial service there. The unity tour was started in New Jersey nine years ago by Florham Park Lt. Pat Montoure. He rode the first bicycle tour with just 17 other riders, each raising $1,000 in donations. Montoure said he wanted to raise money for the national memorial, which is not federally funded, to acknowledge the sacrifices made by officers and their families. "It's a place to go to reflect on what their sacrifices are," he said of the memorial. "It also shows there is unity among law enforcement (officers)." Livingston is serving as the host department and is organizing this year's ride from northern New Jersey, though there are other riders coming on different routes from South Jersey and Virginia. The bicyclists will set off from Livingston and travel through West Orange, Orange, East Orange, Newark, and Jersey City, traveling through the Holland Tunnel before stopping at Ground Zero. The first day is a 60-mile ride with the officers stopping for the night in Woodbridge. The three subsequent days involve riding about 100 miles each day, sleeping in hotels at night, and arriving in Washington on May 12, for a rendezvous at the Jefferson Memorial. Livingston detective Debbie Shumaker, who is coordinating the tour with Sgt. Anthony Dippold, said between 650 and 700 riders are expected to join this year's tour. Each rider has raised $1,500, most of which will be donated to the Law Enforcement Memorial fund, which maintains the memorial site and is raising money for a law enforcement museum. "It's an amazing thing," Shumaker said, describing the sight of the bicyclists, all in blue jerseys, riding into the nation's capital with a motorcycle escort. She and Dippold said spectators line the streets to watch the procession, often saluting as the officers ride by. "It's a neat feeling; it brings a tear to your eye," she said. Dippold added that the riders -- some from as far away as California, Nevada, and New Hampshire -- forge friendships on the four-day trek to the capital, "There's definitely a bonding between police officers." Organizers said they hope to exceed the $600,000 raised last year. One of the officers participating in the tour this year is Craig White of the Los Angeles Police Department, a department with one of the highest officer loss rates in the nation. White will be one of 34 Californians riding in this year's tour. White said being a part of the tour is a rewarding experience. "The first time they ride it, they get hooked," he said. "There is a camaraderie and you're meeting other officers from different parts of the country." He said it is also a deeply moving experience. "You're thinking of the officers who are lost ... The first year, it brought me to tears." More information about the tour can be found on the Web site www.PoliceUnityTour.com. Elizabeth Moore covers West Essex. She can be reached at (973) 392-1852 or emoore@starledger.com. © 2005 The Star Ledger © 2005 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.