Several law enforcement officers within San Francisco are participating in the 2012 Police Unity Tour. The PUT is a four day, 300 mile bicycle ride from northern New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial in Washington, DC. The PUT’s primary goal is to raise awareness regarding officers killed in the line of duty and to raise funds for the Memorial. All of the 1500 riders are active or retired law enforcement officers from across the United States or surviving family members. The arrival of the PUT at the Memorial marks the opening of National Police Week.
This year, the San Francisco Police Department is represented by Sergeant Pat Tobin (Co A), Officers Michael Amoroso (Co E), Mari Noguchi (Co J), Sonia Mariona (TAC-K9) Shante Williams (Co C) and me. The San Francisco Sheriff’s Department is represented by Deputy Sheriff Heather Webb, the California Highway Patrol by Officer Ross Ingles (Marin office, but patrols the Golden Gate Bridge) and the California Department of Justice by Special Agent Supervisor Julie Dun (SF Field office).
Although we ride for all of our fallen law enforcement officers, each riders selects specific officers and wears a bracelet bearing the officers name and after the ride, presents it to the officers family to show them that although their loved ones died protecting our freedoms, we will never forget them or their ultimate sacrifice.
This year, we are riding for the following law enforcement officers:
Ron Banta is riding for Inspector Kirk Brookbush and Officer James Dougherty – SFPD Air Support because they were always there for us and now they are gone.
Pat Tobin is riding for Officer James Capoot – Vallejo PD, who even in death is teaching his daughters to be strong and to move forward
Mike Amoroso is riding for Officer Issac Espinoza – SFPD Bayview Station who was a young plainclothes cop fighting the good fight for the good people on the Bayview.
Sonia Mariona is riding for Sergeant Darryl Tsujimoto SFPD K9 and Officer Jon Cook SFPD Mission Station so they will not be forgotten.
Mari Noguchi is riding for Officer Capoot as well because he was always involved in his community he served.
Shante Williams is riding for his ex-partner Officer Richard May – East Palo Alto PD who will always be remembered as a cop’s cop.
Heather Webb is also riding for Capoot and her uncle, LT Mike Walker - CHP. Never forget LT Mike Walker. (Walker’s wife, Michelle, is also a veteran PUT rider.)
Ross Ingles is riding for Officer Thomas Adams CHP. His mom is a CHP employee and his aunt is a Marin county supervisor.
Julie Dun is riding for Deputy Sheriff Suzanne Hopper – Clark County (OH) Sheriff’s Office and Police Officer Moria Smith – New York City Police Department because female law enforcement officers’ dedication to service should never be forgotten. (Hopper was the first cop killed in 2011 and Smith was the first cop to radio in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center 09/11/2001)
We leave for New Jersey in early May and will ride into the Memorial on 05/12/2012 at about 1400. If you would like to follow our progress during the ride or upon or arrival, check us out at www.policeunitytour.com or Google the local news stations.
We could not have participated in this honorable event without the direct financial support from the San Francisco Police Officers Association and other law enforcement union associations, national and local businesses, donations from private individuals and from our brother and sister law enforcement officers. It should also be noted that Chief Greg Suhr has given us and the Police Unity Tour tremendous support.
The Police Unity Tour - Northern California Chapter 13 and specifically the participating law enforcement officers wish to thank everyone for their support.
(The Police Unity Tour is a non-profit charitable organization under 501c(3) of the US Tax Codes, tax EIN 22-3530541. All donations are fully tax deductable and are always welcome. Checks can be made out to Police Unity Tour PO Box 881054 SF CA 94188)
