Letter: Police Guild to participate in ride

On 29 November, 2009 the greatest single tragic incident in Washington State Law Enforcement history struck our department. It was on this fateful day that we lost four officers and friends (Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Ronnie Owens and Greg Richards) at the hands of a violent criminal.

To honor our fine officers and friends we are participating in a 320 mile ride of support called the Police Unity Tour. The Tour is a Law Enforcement bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. Over 1,000 officers from around the country participate in this ride each year as, “We ride for those who died”. The ride ends at the National Law Enforcement Memorial where the lives of the nation’s fallen officers are remembered. As a participant in this ride we are required to raise a minimum of $1800 per rider. More information on the tour can be found at www.policeunitytour.com.

The funds raised go toward tour expenses, support of the National Law Enforcement Memorial and the future National Law Enforcement Museum. National Law Enforcement week is 9-15 May. During this week thousands of survivors of officers killed in the line of duty attend various ceremonies culminating in the National Peace Officers Memorial Day Service and Wreath laying Ceremony. It is also during this week that the names of our four fallen officers will be engraved on the National Law Enforcement Memorial. More information on the Memorial can be found at www.nleomf.com.

We will be the first police officers from the state of Washington to have ever participated in this event. We hold this as a tremendous honor. Your donation will go a long way in assisting us and honoring those that serve. The Police Unity Tour is a 501c3 and your donation is tax deductible. The tax ID number is 22-3530541. There is an April 12 deadline for us to have donations to forward to the national chapter.

Thank you,

Sgt. Mark Eakes, Sgt. John Fraser, Ofc. Charles Porche, Ofc. Michelle Hector

Questions can be directed to Mark Eakes (253.606.4175) or Charles Porch