Police officers ride for those fallen: Support their tour
AFTER FINISHING THE ride, Officer Danny Chavez shows his enthusiasm.
Police officers have to stay in shape so they can go headfirst into dangerous situations. Many do intense exercise and also train for races in their spare time. One such race is
the Police Unity Tour (PUT), where 2,600 officers from across the country congregate. The race takes place in May, starts in New Jersey and finishes in Washington, D.C.
The PUT is a three-day, individual bike race to raise money and awareness for fallen officers nationwide. This year, Olympic Community Police Station (LAPD) will be represented with seven officers, including Larchmont’s Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Danny Chavez. In addition to acknowledging fallen officers, riders raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The race’s motto is “We ride for those who died.”
This year LAPD lost a very prominent and well-respected SLO from the Hollywood Community Police Station, Paul Jordan. Jordan, 58, was an LAPD officer for 29 years and had worked at the Hollywood station for the last 22 years. He was a participant in this race numerous times. He died on Jan. 22 when he lost consciousness while driving home from the Palisades Fire. He sustained fatal injuries when his car veered off the road.
SLO Chavez is one of many who are riding to honor Jordan. If you see Chavez in person, you may notice a black and blue band over his badge, indicating the loss of an officer. Referred to as a “mourning band,” it symbolizes respect and grief for the fallen officer.
What’s involved
The race takes quite a bit of organizing. First the riders have to break down their bikes and bring them to a warehouse, where they are then shipped to New Jersey. Then 30 motorcycles — which are ridden by the escorts for the bike riders throughout the race — are shipped. Finally, the officers take a charter flight to New Jersey to assemble their bikes and start the ride.
The race starts in Florham Park, New Jersey, on Sat., May 10, and ends on Mon., May 12, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The route is about 250 miles, which amounts to about five hours of riding each day.
Each group takes its own route to D.C., but everyone waits for each other at the end. According to Chavez, “For the last four miles, the streets of D.C. are lined with families of fallen officers, retired officers and past riders cheering everyone on. It’s quite a site to see.” The race ends at the National Officers Memorial.
The next day, officers dress in their class A uniforms, which is their professional dress consisting of a shirt and tie, for a candlelight vigil at the memorial. There, the fallen officers’ names are read aloud, one by one, and unveiled, etched in stone, at the memorial.
THE TEAM FOR OLYMPIC Division poses in front of RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. after completing the tour.
How you can help
In order to ride, officers have to raise at least $2,300; $1,000 is donated to the National Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and $1,300 covers the cost of the race. Anything extra goes to the memorial.
“I appreciate any support,” says SLO Chavez.
If you would like to help Chavez reach his goal for the eighth year in a row, donate to his ride at tinyurl.com/4mb6pu85.
Category: People
