Princeton Township Police Officers to Ride in Police Unity Tour

Two members of the Princeton Township Police Department will once again bicycle more than 200 miles in the Police Unity Tour to recognize and honor fallen officers.

The three-day ride begins on May 10 from Somerset, NJ and ends at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.

"We ride for those who died," is the motto of the national Police Unity Tour, an organization that recognizes the sacrifices of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Each year during Police Week, officers from all over the country participate in bicycle rides to Washington, D.C., to promote awareness, honor and remember their fallen comrades and raise money for the Police Museum which is being built in Washington, D.C.

So far in 2012 there have been 36 law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty; in 2011 there were 163.

Sgt. Geoff Maurer will ride in honor of Princeton Township Police Off. Billie Ellis, who died on Aug. 19, 1955. Ellis drowned while attempting to rescue two young boys whose canoe became swamped in Lake Carnegie following flooding after Hurricane Diane. The high water caused both boats to become swamped. Both boys drowned, as did Ellis, whowas off duty at the time but responded to the scene to help with the rescue.

Officer Chris King will ride to honor NJ State Police Trooper Anthony Lukis, Jr. who was shot to death on May 4, 1966, when he stopped to check on a car parked along the New Jersey Turnpike. After a struggle, Trooper Lukis was shot three times in the back, killing him.

King and Maurer will be participating in the “Challenge Ride” which leaves from Franklin Township Police headquarters in Somerset County. The first day of their ride takes them on Route 518 through Franklin, Montgomery, out to Lambertville to their first day destination of Philadelphia; a bike ride of approximately 70 miles.

Day two is from Philadelphia to Baltimore, a ride of over 100 miles. Day three is approximately 48 miles from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., to meet up with other officers from other groups who will all ride into the Law Enforcement Memorial site together. Each officer needed to raise a minimum of $1,800 to participate.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in honor of fallen law enforcement officers or to support the Police Unity Tour can write a check to PBA 387 and on the memo portion write Police Unity Tour; the checks can be mailed to PBA 387, 1 Valley Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.