Roseville Police Sergeant Remembers Fallen Officers in 250-Mile Trek

Roseville Police Sergeant Greg Levendoski returned to work on May 15 after a week-long trip to Washington D.C.

While Levendoski used his vacation time and covered his own expenses for the personal vacation, his trip was not about trolling through the Smithsonian museums or riding the elevator to the top of the Washington Monument. 

Levendoski joined more than 1,200 law enforcement officers from around the country—23 of which were from Minnesota—in a 250-mile bike ride from Virginia to Washington D.C. to raise money for family members and survivors of officers killed in the line of duty.

“I am always really proud to complete the ride,” said Levendoski, a three-year veteran of the annual Law Enforcement United (LEU) bike ride. “It is important not to forget the men and women in law enforcement that have given the ultimate sacrifice.”

Unfortunately for Levendoski and the rest of the that sacrifice is a familiar one.

Levendoski completed the 2011 trek in memory of Roseville police officer Howard Johnson who was killed August 16, 1972 and officer Bruce Russell who was killed May 16, 1982.

“It is a very emotional thing to participate in,” Levendoski explained. “When your legs are tired and you don’t want to ride anymore, the memory of fallen officers keeps you going. Also, seeing all the support from all the other departments is just breathtaking.”

The LEU ride began May 10 in Chesapeake, Va., and concluded on May 12 at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

Riders rode roughly 100 miles their first day and another 80 miles the second day through what the LEU website calls the “rolling hills” of Virginia.

“The second day was definitely the most challenging,” Levendoski explained. “The ‘rolling hills’ are the Appalachian Mountains. To call them rolling hills is a drastic understatement.”

Despite the difficult course and having to finance his own participation, Levendoski encourages all law enforcement officers to take part. "The money is well spent and the memories last a lifetime," he said. 

This year Levendoski raised $1,500 for the Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) Foundation and the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). 

All told, state, local and federal law enforcement officers raised $135,000 for COPS and $50,000 for ODMP, the LEU website reported.  

On May 13, riders escorted survivors and family members of fallen officers to a candlelight vigil. They then met President Obama on May 15 during National Peace Officers' Memorial Day services on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.