Law Enforcement United Ride Martinsville, Virginia
L
aw Enforcement United (LEU) is an organi- zation whose membership primarily consists of a group of federal, state and local law enforcement officers and survivors commit- ted to honoring the service and sacrifice of all law enforcement officers. Annually, their members participate in a 250-mile bicycle trek called “Road to Hope” from Chesapeake, VA to Washington, D.C. to attend National
Peace Officer’s Memorial Day services. Law Enforcement United operates entirely by donations
through fundraising and the help of volunteers. The Executive Board works on a volunteer basis with no salaries or stipends. It relies on monetary donations to help achieve fundraising goal donations to Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and Officer Down Memorial Page (O.D.M.P.). These donations, as well as donations of food, water and other supplies, along with shelter and medical aid, help provide for the 450 members who make the three-day journey in May. It is their mission to honor the service and sacrifice of all
law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, and support the survivors left behind. “Road to Hope” is about help- ing survivors know they are not alone, and enable resources like C.O.P.S. and O.D.M.P. to help these families rebuild, and preserve the memories and honor of their fallen hero. Due to the rising numbers of this organization, it recently
expanded to include a Pennsylvania Division, and they par- ticipated in the 2012 ride. There are start-up fees for a new division and fundraising is how they obtain the money. Also, every rider and support team member is required to raise money so that they can participate in each year’s ride. Riders must raise $1,250 and support team members are required to raise $625. On May 12, 2012, federal, state, and local law enforcement
officers, along with some survivors, arrived at the site of the Pentagon’s September 11th
Memorial after having bicycled
from Reading, PA. These officers delivered checks to C.O.P.S and O.D.M.P. for $230,000! C.O.P.S. used this money to fund the annual C.O.P.S. Kids Camp held in East Troy, WI. This year the City of Martinsville Sheriff’s Office provided
support assistance to this significant program by providing two officers to participate in this bike ride to its destination. “We are sincerely appreciative of the Virginia State Police for all the assistance they provided to the City of Martinsville Sheriff’s Office to bring our Motor Squad to fruition. With- out the assistance from Colonel Steve Flaherty and Captain
22 THE MOTOR OFFICER™ | FALL 2012
City of Martinsville, VA – Sheriff’s Office Motor Officers, Sgt. Daniel Bran- nock and Deputy Doug Hardy, recently participated in the annual Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) bicycle ride from Reading, Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. The officers were among 80 Motor Officers who assisted the cyclists. “We are very proud of Law Enforcement United for their commit- ment to police survivors, and equally as proud of our two officers that made this tremendous commitment of their time,” said Sheriff Steve Draper.
Richard Denny and many more Virginia State Police Officers, we would not have had the opportunity to offer such critical assistance to organizations such as Law Enforcement United,” said Sheriff Steve Draper.