FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana’s NewsCenter) – After riding 95 miles on their bicycles, participants of Cops Cycling for C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors) stopped in Fort Wayne today. The event has been happening for seven years, but this is the first time they stopped in Fort Wayne.
Cops Cycling for C.O.P.S. is a charity bike ride that honors fallen police officers and their families. The ride started July 26 at Monument Circle in Indianapolis, and groups of 25 riders a day will circle the perimeter of Indiana. The nearly 1,000 mile bike ride will end August 3.
Officers, families and supporters gathered around the Law Enforcement/Firefighters Memorial on Wells Street as riders were led by police escorts to pay their respects and enjoy lunch at the newly erected memorial.
A memorial service was held for all the fallen officers in Allen County. As bagpipes played “Amazing Grace”, riders read obituaries of those men and women who died in service.
Lunch was hosted and served by the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association (PBA) and Susan Matteson-Thomas, the widow of Officer Brad Matteson who died in the line of duty in 2000.
Rich Crawford, Indiana State Trooper and Director of Cops Cycling for C.O.P.S., said they do this to remind communities of the risk officers take everyday.
“We just want to remind these folks out here, these officers out here, working hard every day, putting their life on the line, and sometimes we lose one of those officers, unfortunately. And we just want to remind the community, ‘let's not forget about what happened to those officers and those families that were left behind’.”
Crawford anticipates getting over $30,000 in donations during the ride this year. All proceeds will go toward providing scholarships and counseling for the families of fallen officers.
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