southern california police unity tour

• Executive Board/Associate Members
• Registration
• Support Member Info
• Fundraising
• Our Sponsors

Become a Rider/Register

Law enforcement officers interested in riding may be active, retired, reserve and represent a law enforcement agency within the United States.  Relatives of participating law enforcement officers and survivors are also invited.  In addition, various support positions are available for civilian personnel and law enforcement officers not able to ride in the event.

Registration is a two-stage process.  Please complete the initial Stage 1 signup.  Once reviewed and approved by the Tour coordinator, you will receive an email to complete Stage 2.   You are NOT a member UNTIL you have completed Stage 2 and paid your membership application fee.  Members not completing both stages will be placed on the waiting list, this includes past members.

All participants (riders and support) are required to do the following:

• Complete a Police Unity Tour application and include a non-refundable $150 membership application fee;
• Abide by fund due dates; NEW rider minimum $750.00 by December 1, 2023; returning members must have minimum of $750.00 by January 15, 2024
• Raise a minimum of $2,100.00 in donations by April 1, 2024;
• Attend (out of state members may view meetings live) mandatory chapter meetings; and
• Be able to incur various other tour related expenses (i.e.; round-trip airfare, bicycle equipment, and Police Unity Tour jersey);
• Abide by safety rules.
• If local, riders must participate in the posted training ride.  This ride will gage a riders readiness for May’s event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How much does it cost to participate? Answer: Riders/Support are required to raise a minimum of $2100.00. and pay for required Tour uniforms. In addition, all members must pay a non-refundable $150.00 registration fee.  Please allow for airfare costs.

Question: Who can participate as a Rider? Answer: RIDERS shall be sworn law enforcement officers. Retired , and reserve officers are also welcomed. We also invite any immediate family members of participating law enforcement officers  and survivors of officers killed in the line of duty to participate as a riders. All participants must be at least 18 years of age.

Question: When does the Police Unity Tour take place? Answer:  The Police Unity Tour takes place every year during National Police Week.  The event dates take place from May 8th through the morning of May 14th.

Question: Do I need to make hotel arrangements? Answer: No, the Chapter makes your hotel reservations and your registration monies and membership fee cover the hotel expenses from May 8th through the morning (check out) of May 14, 2024.  Any hotel arrangements to stay in Washington D.C. past this date must be made by the member themselves and are separate from the tour hotel contracts.

What happens if a Pandemic occurs and I cancel. Do my funds carry over to the following year? Answer: The Police Unity Tour is an ongoing fundraising event.  Funds of past years have gone towards the Memorial’s current restoration by adding 24″ of additional limestone wall.  When a member commits to fundraise, their donors are contributing to towards the  Police Unity Tour’s mission of raising funds  for the NLEOMF and funds will be forwarded accordingly, not as a rider credit.  It is not our intent to cancel any event unless forced to cancel due to circumstances entirely out of our control.  If you are uncomfortable participating, we truly understand your concern and we hope to see you in 2025.

Question: Who can participate as a member of the support TEAM? Answer: Our SUPPORT TEAM is open to active or retired law enforcement personnel, immediate family members of an active or retired law enforcement officer, Civilian employees of a law enforcement agency, survivors or any individuals sponsored by current members in good standing. All participants must be at least 18 years of age.

Question: As a new rider why do I need to raise $750 by December 1st? Answer:   Historically, new riders are our highest drops.  This due date allows us to monitor if a new rider is committed to fulfilling the overall minimum fundraising.  Failure to raise this minimum, allows us to move off a new member and to move a waitlist member onto the team.   Please note, for 2024 registration, past riders will be notified when registration will open. Once open, registration is open to all.

Question: Do I need to make my own Air travel arrangements? Answer: Yes, each member is responsible for making their own travel arrangements from the beginning of the Tour in Somerset, New Jersey as well as for their return from Washington D.C.

Question: How far is the route? Answer: The whole ride is approximately 250 miles. The route is challenging but can be done if the member trains properly.  Please check our Facebook link for posted training rides.  Out of state members are encouraged to coordinate and post their rides as well.

Question: What is the pace? Answer: We average 15 mph. The speed will vary based on conditions and terrain. You must train for this ride and be prepared to ride over 100 miles on day two.

Question: When does the membership / application process start? Answer: We will begin accepting memberships / applications for the 2024 Police Unity Tour in early September.

Question: If I sign-up for the one year membership, do I have to participate in the Police Unity Tour ride in May 2024? Answer: No, you may opt to join as a member of socalput and receive e-mail updates and participate in the weekly training rides and all socalput functions. Registrations are non-refundable.

Question: If I decide not to ride, can I give my membership to another person?

Answer:  No, the registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Question: I own a recumbent bicycle and/or an E-bike, can I use this type of bicycle?

Answer:   Not at this time.

Upcoming Chapter Meetings

• Overnight Training Ride, April 6-7th-2024-members must RSVP April 06, 2024
• Last Team Meeting -March 28, 2024, 7:00pm (PST) March 28, 2024

View all Events →

Countdown to Southern California PUT Ride

On May 12, 2,300 law enforcement personnel form across the nation will participate in the Police Unity Tour.

The Police Unity Tour is a bicycle tour to raise awareness for fallen peace officers and raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s memorial in Washington D.C.

Additional sheriff and police officials will join the tour to provide support for riders, making this one of the largest law enforcement events in the United States.

This year’s ride is especially memorable, as it will mark the event’s 20th anniversary.

The Police Unity Tour is the largest donor to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund.

Last year’s event raised over $1.9 million, which was donated to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund.

Since 1997, donations total nearly $18 million.

Funds received through donations go toward careful and respectful maintenance of the Memorial, which contains the names of over 20,000 fallen heroes.

It receives year-round care including re-engraving, coating and sealing of the names, as well as the cleaning of the walls and other memorial improvements.

The Police Unity Tour’s motto, which is simply stated, “We Ride For Those Who Died,” is just that: Law enforcement personnel joining together to complete a bicycle tour, raising awareness for their professional brothers and sisters who died in the line of duty, and raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.

It was organized in 1997, by Officer Patrick P. Montuore of the FlorhamPark Police Department, New Jersey and began with 18 riders on a four-day, fund-raising bicycle ride from Florham Park, New Jersey, to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

That event raised $18,000.

The Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII will have over 400 riders and supporters participating in the event.

On May 8, 2016, the group will fly with their equipment to Somerset, New Jersey, where they will begin the three-day, 280-mile journey through Philadelphia, Delaware and Maryland and complete their circuit in Washington D.C.

They will join other law enforcement officers from other Police Unity Tour Chapters across the United States as they ride into Washington D.C. to kick-off National Police Week.

Sheriff Jim McDonnell said, “2016 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Police Unity Tour, and the Department is proud to have assembled its largest group of participants for this noble cause to date.

Each member has invested hours of training to prepare for the challenging ride, and raised a commendable amount of donations to maintain our nation’s memorial for fallen law enforcement officers.

Their efforts have raised the public’s awareness and appreciation for all law enforcement officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe.”

The Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII group includes the following dedicated personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department: Deputy Elizabeth Aguilera, East Los Angeles Station; Sergeant Devon Akita, Inmate Reception Center; Deputy Jose Arciga, Lakewood Station; Sergeant Michael Austin, Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau; Deputy Antoinette Bowen, Lakewood Station; Reserve Deputy Jacob Castroll, Malibu/Lost Hills Station; Deputy Aleshia Costello, Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center; Lieutenant Steve Dodson, Court Services Central Bureau; Deputy Maricela Dusky, Century Regional Detention Facility; Deputy Pedro Echeverria, Parks Bureau; Commander Kelley Fraser, South Patrol Division; Deputy Miguel Fuentes, Operation Safe Streets Bureau; Deputy Javier Gonzalez, Jr., Temple Station; Commander Maria Gutierrez, Century Regional Detention Facility; Deputy Craig Hathaway, Norwalk Courthouse; Deputy Michael Herrera, Lakewood Station; Deputy Scott Hutter, Emergency Vehicle Operations Center; Deputy Luis Lezama, East Los Angeles Station; Deputy Monica Malagon, Industry Station; Stationary Engineer II Joey Manalaysay, Men’s Central Jail; Sergeant Michael Moen, Inmate Reception Center; Deputy John Moore, Emergency Vehicle Operations Center; Sergeant Maria Nobles, Inmate Reception Center; Deputy Mark Perez, Operation Safe Streets Bureau; Deputy Sara Pineda, Stanley Mosk Courthouse; Deputy Ramiro Ramos, Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court; Deputy Evelyn Renderos, East Los Angeles Station; Crime Analyst Rebecca Robbins, Scientific Services Bureau; Deputy Michelle Roberts, Santa Clarita Valley Station; Deputy Angel Rodriguez, Major Crimes Bureau; Deputy Deborah Romero, County Services Bureau; Deputy Joe Rosalez, Emergency Vehicle Operations Center; Custody Assistant Marnie Saldecke, Inmate Reception Center; Deputy Eliel Teixeira, Inmate Reception Center; Deputy Lisa Villanueva, Pico Rivera Station; Sergeant Robert Weber, Community Partnerships Bureau; Deputy Robert Wilkinson, Santa Clarita Valley Station; Lieutenant Hiroshi Yokoyama, North Patrol Division; Deputy Alexander Zambrano, Temple Station.

If you would like to sponsor a rider or contribute to the Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII, click www.socalput.com or send your donation to: Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII 23890 Copper Hill Drive, Suite 170, Valencia, CA 91354

All donations to the Police Unity Tour are tax deductible (Tax ID# 22-3530541).

For information about the Police Unity Tour please contact Media Relations Coordinator, Karin Storm, at [email protected] or Chapter President Gil Curtis at [email protected] .

The Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter VII is on Facebook! View pictures and footage, get additional information and meet new friends at: https:// www .facebook.com/Police-Unity-Tour-Southern-California-Chapter-VII-131591273533387/ , or visit their website at www.socalput.com .

For more information about the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, please visit our website at www.lasd.org .

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SCVTV Santa Clarita

The Police Unity Tour consists of 8 chapters around the country.  We also have many international members who join us every year for our ride.  Chapters start at different locations along the east coast of the U.S.  All rides then converge on a central location so that we all ride into the National Law Enforcement Memorial together.

If you don’t live in one of the areas where there is a chapter, don’t worry! You can still join our organization! Many members travel from around the country/world to participate at different locations. We are currently accepting new members and can assist with putting you in contact with the correct chapter.

Chapter 1 – Northern NJ

Chapter 2 – Southern NJ

Chapter 4 – Virginia

Chapter 7 – Southern CA

Chapter 8 – Florida

Chapter 9 – Delaware

Chapter 10 – Central NJ

Chapter 13 – Northern CA

All donations are greatly appreciated! Please select a donate option below.

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POLICE UNITY TOUR MEETING

October 19, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

2018 POLICE UNITY TOUR FIRST MEETING OCTOBER 19, 2017 AT 1900 HOURS AT THE LAPD PROTECTIVE LEAGUE

1308 W. 8TH STREET LOS ANGELES, CA 90017

250 miles from Somerset, N.J. to Washington D.C.

Join us as we honor DETECTIVE BRIAN VILLA AND RESERVE DEPUTY JACOB CASTROLL

AND ALL FALLEN Law Enforcement officers

The Police Unity Tour is a bicycle ride that was established to raise awareness in both the police and civilian communities about the National Law Enforcement Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our communities.

The secondary purpose of the tour is to raise funds to maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum in Washington D.C., and keep the memory of our fallen brothers and sisters alive.

The Police Unity Tour is recruiting new riders and support to participate in this worthy cause.

Please visit our website at http://www.socalput.com Police Unity Tour – Southern California Chapter, VII www.socalput.com

Police Unity Tour – Challenge Ride. Registration for the 2018 Police Unity Tour Challenge Ride is now open. Please click on the following link to complete the first … https://socalput.com/

Deputy Joseph Rosalez at EVOC (909)629-9535 , or cell (951) 377-9127.

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2019 POLICE UNITY TOUR

#BearGoesEverywhere  this week the Bear followed our 2019 LASD Police Unity Bicycle Tour, Southern California Chapter VII, and rode past the George Washington Crossing Statue located near the Delaware River in the New Jersey / Pennsylvania border area.

The George Washington statue represents the crossing of the Delaware River, which occurred on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, which was the first move in a surprise attack organized by George Washington against the Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey.

The Police Unity Tour was organized in 1997, in efforts to bring public awareness of law enforcement officers that have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices, and to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum. The tour started with 18 riders on a bicycle ride from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. 

Riders must be willing to train extensively to prepare for this arduous 3-day, 250 mile ride that begins in Somerset, NJ and ends in Washington D.C.

Until next time, everyone stay safe and look out for the Bear in your city.

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Five Ventura Police Officers set to participate in the 2020 Police Unity Tour

• News and Notes

Police Unity Tour riders Retired Captain Paul Kofman, Officer Tyler Bevan, Officer Rebecca Kofman, Corporal Casey Sutherland, and Officer Greg Knupp to participate.

On May 10, 2020, Ventura Police Corporal Sutherland and Officers Bevan, Knupp, Kofman, and Reginato will join more than 2,500 law enforcement officers from throughout the country for the 24th Annual Police Unity Tour Memorial Ride. All participants will bicycle along varying routes, each nearly 300 miles, to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. This year, the Police Unity Tour- Southern California Chapter will have over 400 police officers representing California Highway patrol, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and police departments from Alhambra, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Los Angeles, Palos Verdes Estates, Pasadena, and Ventura.

On May 13, 2020, the team will join over 50,000 people at the National Law Enforcement Memorial Candlelight Vigil. During the ceremony, the names of every officer who died in the line of duty in 2019 will be read and his/her name officially added to the Memorial, which already contains the names of over 21,000 fallen heroes.

The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness about the police officers who have died in the line of duty. The Police Unity Tour’s motto is, “We Ride For Those Who Died.” The funds raised for this event will go towards the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Since its’ inception in 1997, the Police Unity Tour has raised over $25 million to support the Memorial. It is because of the incredible level of support from various communities that officers are able to participate in the 2020 Police Unity Tour and ensure that the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice are not forgotten.

Corporal Casey Sutherland has been leading VPD’s team for the past six years. “I ride because many years ago, an L.A. County Deputy and high school friend of mine was killed in the line of duty. I have carried his memory with me my entire career,” said Corporal Sutherland. “I learned about the Tour from a co-worker who had ridden previously and once I rode in my first tour, I was hooked. It’s an amazing way to honor those officers and their surviving family members and I’m proud to be a small part of it.”

For more information about the Police Unity Tour Southern California Chapter, please visit www.socalput.com . All donations to the Police Unity Tour are tax deductible (Tax ID#22-353-541).

Over 100 officers ride from Norfolk to D.C. to honor fallen officers

N ORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Police officers from all around the United States gathered in Norfolk Friday to bring awareness to officers who have died in the line of duty.

The send off ceremony for the annual Police Unity Tour started at 7 a.m. at Town Point Park. This year’s group consists of 100 riders, 30 motorcycle officers and 60 support units, all heading towards the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington D.C.

10 On Your Side saw officers from various police departments such as Tampa, Orlando, and St. Charles Parish.

“Our motivation is to show support to the families, to the friends, to coworkers who’ve lost loved ones in the line of duty serving their communities. We want to remind them that they have never been forgotten,” said Craig Russell, a retired Baton Rouge Police Officer.

Once the riders left Town Point Park, they head to York County. The group will ride on George Washington Memorial Highway. Around 11:30 a.m. they plan to arrive at Yorktown Beach for lunch.

According to the Officer Down Memorial there were 137 line of duty deaths in the country in 2023. 56 officers have died in the line of duty so far in the year 2024.

One of the most recent line of duty deaths in Hampton Roads was in 2020, when Newport News police officer Katie Thyne was killed when she was dragged by a car after a traffic stop.

The Police Unity Tour aims to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum in Washington, D.C., the last stop on the tour.

“I want them [people] to remember the service that these fallen heroes have given to their communities and the sacrifices their families made so that we can have such a great country,” Russell said.

The group plans to make it to D.C. by Sunday.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.

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New Jersey police officers embark on 4-day Police Unity Tour to remember fallen officers

By Kim Hudson

May 9, 2024 / 10:38 AM EDT / CBS Philadelphia

EVESHAM TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) -- Evesham Township Police kicked off the Police Unity Tour Thursday to remember officers who were killed in the line of duty.

"Officer Shisler, from the Deptford Police Department, was tragically killed about a year ago now," Evesham Township Police Chief Walt Miller said.

Miller was talking about Deptford police officer Bobby Shisler, who died in May 2023 after being shot during a pedestrian stop in March of that year . 

This year, officers including Evesham patrolman Colin Hinklemon, will ride for Shisler.

"For us, it hits close to home. For it to be this close to home kind of stinks," Hinklemon said.

Thursday's ride would run for about 50 miles, making several stops and keeping Shisler's memory alive.

"There's no words," Hinklemon said. "I think that can truly describe what this means, I hope not only his family but also for everybody else in the law enforcement community as well."

The ride may be long, but Miller said it gives these men and women in blue the strength they need while remembering officers like Shisler.

"I know for myself and a lot of them, it puts a lot of things in life into perspective, because life is just one step at a time," Miller said.

The ride would not end in New Jersey. These officers are on their way to Washington D.C. In about three days, they would meet thousands of others on their way to the  National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial , where the names of more than 200 newly fallen officers will be added.

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Kim Hudson joined the CBS News Philadelphia family in May 2023 as a Multi-Skilled Journalist. She was most recently an anchor, host and reporter in her hometown of St. Louis.

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