Preschoolers, Vets Raise Money For Police Unity Tour

Students at and veterans from recently made sizable contributions to the 2012 Police Unity Tour.

The bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington D.C. seeks to raise awareness about and financial support for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The fund honors police officers who have died in the line-of-duty and works to support the families they left behind.

, which begins Wednesday (May 9). Also riding as part of other teams will be two other Lawrence residents: Detective Gary Wasko from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and Martin Burch of the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

The 3-year-old class at LRPCNS, led by teachers Lisa Esposito and Annette Trimble, collected spare change during their "Pennies for the Police" drive. The students and their families were able to make a $200 donation to the memorial fund on behalf of the Lawrence Township Police team and the Department of Corrections team to which Burch belongs.

American Legion Post 414, meanwhile, recently donated $850 to the township police team.

The Police Unity Tour started in 1997 with a small number of officers who biked to the nation’s capital from Florham Park in Morris County. Since then it has blossomed into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s largest supporter, with nearly $10 million raised to date.

“We Ride for Those Who Died” is the motto of the riders, who vow that no fallen police officer will ever be forgotten.

This year’s tour will begin in New Jersey on May 9, pass through Mercer County on May 10, and arrive in Washington D.C. on May 12. Last year, nearly 1,400 police officers from around the country participated.

Riding on the Lawrence Township team are Sgt. Chris Longo, Sgt. Joseph Lech IV, Officer Thomas Everist, Officer Kelly Longo, Officer Sean Kerins, Officer Iwona Smith and retired Officer Ed Budzinski.

The Lawrence Township officers have dedicated their participation in this year’s ride in honor of Laurens County, S.C., Deputy Sheriff Roger Dale Rice Jr. and Freemansburg, Pa., Police Officer Robert Alan Lasso.

Rice was fatally shot July 14, 2011, as he and other sheriff’s deputies apprehended a murder suspect. Just 29 years old, Rice is survived by his wife and two children. Lasso was shot and killed Aug. 11, 2011, while responding to a domestic disturbance. Lasso, who was 31, is also survived by his wife and two children.

Anyone wishing to support the Lawrence Township officers riding in the Police Unity Tour can make a donation online via this website.