Cycling Cops ride through July 19


Cops Cycling for Survivors will trav­el from South Bend to Angola on July 19.

The 22nd annual bicycle tour will cover nearly 1,000 miles over 13 days in July to honor law enforcement officers fallen in the line of duty and their sur­vivors.

As in past years, Cops Cycling does not make a determination of line-of-du­ty death status. It honors Indiana officers recognized by state and federal officials as having died in the line of duty, said a news release. This year, special honor is given to four officers who died in 2022 as well as one officer from 2020 recog­nized by officials in 2022 as a line-of-du­ty death.

In 2002, Cops Cycling for Survivors began with a ride to Washington, D.C. to honor fallen officers. The cyclists now ride through Indiana, meeting with sur­vivors of officers to support them as they continue to deal with the loss of loved ones. The group honors the more than 450 Indiana officers who have been rec­ognized as line of duty deaths by reading a memorial for each officer during the tour.

“Cops Cycling for Survivors vows to never let Indiana’s fallen heroes be for­gotten and to support the survivors of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of the state,” said the news release.

Cops Cycling for Survivors attempts to contact survivors, including family, co­workers, descendants, and others, of fallen officers but may not have contact informa­tion for some, said the news release. Sur­vivors are asked to contact Cops Cycling for Survivors, PO Box 597, Ellettsville, IN 47429, by phone 812-727-0725, or email copscyclingforsurvivors@gmail.com.

Interested cyclists may also contact the group for more information on joining the ride for all or parts of the ride. Cyclists in­clude survivors, law enforcement officers, and friends of law enforcement.

In addition to memorializing Indiana’s fallen officers, Cops Cycling for Survivors raises financial support for survivors. Pro­ceeds from the annual ride provide line-of-duty death benefits for primary survivors as well as fund scholarships, camps, and other avenues of support for survivors. The group also assists Line of Duty Death Justice as survivors work through years of court dates, including parole hearings and appeals.

More information and a donation page are found at www.copscycling4sur­vivors.com/. Cops Cycling for Survivors was granted nonprofit status in late 2011 and is no longer directly affiliated with Indiana Concerns of Police Survivors (IN COPS).

The new Cops Cycling for Survivors truck was recently unveiled. While the group rides in support and memory of all line of duty death officers, each year the support truck honors officers killed in the line of duty from the previous year. This year’s truck is in special memory of:

• Deputy Sheriff Noah Rainey, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, End of Watch Jan. 29, 2022;

• Deputy Sheriff Douglas Sanford, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, End of Watch March 29, 2022;

• Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz, El­wood Police Department, End of Watch July 31, 2022; and

• Police Officer Seara Burton, Rich­mond Police Department, End of Watch Sept. 18, 2022.

Also honored on the truck is Correc­tional Officer Gary Weinke, Indiana De­partment of Correction, End of Watch April 25, 2020, who was recognized by officials as a line of duty death in 2022.

Recent line of duty death will receive special recognition next year.

The ride starts July 10 in Indianapolis, arriving in South Bend from Merrillville. From Angola, the riders will head to Bluff­ton en route back to Indy.

As the group rides through locations, area residents are encouraged to show their support for law enforcement offi­cers and the survivors of fallen heroes.

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