Police Unity Tour bike ride honors fallen officers

TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - Police officers from across the Bay Area joined officers from around the country in Washington, D.C. for this year’s Police Unity Tour bike ride.

“It takes hundreds of hours of training. It is very difficult but you think about what the cause is and what it's representing and dig deep,” said Lt. Douglas Groves from the Tampa Police Department.

The ride honors those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and to raises money for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.

“Each officer represents a certain individual killed in a previous year and we wear a memory band on our wrist for that, so you look at your memory band and think about their families that are suffering,” Groves said.

This is his night year participating in the ride.

“I think it’s our duty and responsibility and to try and bring knowledge and publicize the fact these officers killed in the line of duty… bring remembrance to them,” Lt. Groves said.

Along the way, supporters and survivor families are there to cheer the riders on. 

“It really makes us feel good gives us a sense of purpose on the ride it really energizes us,” he said.

The ride culminated Sunday at the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial.