Six Lakewood police officers will be riding in this year’s Police Unity Tour.

Four Lakewood police officers will ride on motorcycles, and others on bicycles.

The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. The secondary purpose is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum. The ride to Washington, DC will commence from Hamilton, NJ, on Thursday.

In May 1997 the Police Unity Tour Inc. was organized by Officer Patrick P. Montoure of the Florham Park Police Department, with the hope of bringing public awareness of Police Officers who have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices. What started with 18 riders on a four-day fund-raising bicycle ride from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. has grown into nine chapters consisting of nearly 2500 members nationwide who make the trip annually.