Detective Sgt. Patrick A. King - Remembering A Long Branch Cop

The night was cold on Nov. 20, 1997, a night Long Branch cops and the people who loved Detective Sgt. Patrick A. King would rather forget.

Pat King was on duty, in uniform, standing in line waiting for his dinner at a local Chinese restaurant when a man who had made it his mission to kill a cop that night fired two shots into Pat King's head.

King fell where he stood. He left his wife Maureen and two young teenage sons, Patrick and Todd and his loving family. He was a 22-year veteran of the Long Branch police force.

The suspect, whose name does not deserve to be mentioned, stole King's police cruiser and led police on a 60-mile chase before he crashed into another police vehicle. He was killed in the ensuing shootout.

Almost 20 years have passed. But the Long Branch Police Department has not forgotten Pat King.

And on May 9 a number of officers will ride in the Police Unity Tour to remember the man who was the most highly decorated police officer in the department when he died.

The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, according to the organization's website.

The secondary purpose is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.

In May 1997 the Police Unity Tour was organized by Officer Patrick P. Montuore of the Florham Park Police Department, with the hope of bringing public awareness of police officers who have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices.

What started with 18 riders on a four day fundraising bicycle ride from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. has grown into nine chapters consisting of over 2200 members nationwide who make the trip annually.

The following list of officers will be participating in the 2017 Police Unity Tour in honor of the 20-Year Remembrance of Patrick King:
RIDERS:
Todd Coleman
Julio Delacruz
Lance Fanning
Antonia Gonzalez
David Graminski
Thomas Hueston
Jason Roebuck
Robert Shamrock
Cesare Simonelli
Charles Simoneli
Joseph Spitale
Heather Valdes
Robert Wiener
MOTORS:
Craig Spencer
SUPPORT:
Brian Garrett
Michael McGlennon
Charles Shirley
They will leave New Jersey on May 9, riding bicycles, motorcycles and support vehicles and arrive in Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 12. The event will end with a candlelight vigil on Saturday, May 13.

By Patricia A. Miller

Images: Long Branch Police Department