Cops Cycling for Survivors announced plans Tuesday for their annual bicycle tour of Indiana as well as unveiled the memorial photos on their support truck. Tuesday was National Peace Officers Memorial Day. The group, whose aim is to raise awareness and actively support survivors of Indiana law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, will bike nearly 1,000 miles over 13 days in July to honor fallen law enforcement officers and their survivors.
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 400 Indiana officers killed in the line of duty 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.
Cops Cycling for Survivors makes every attempt to contact survivors, including family, co-workers, descendants and others of fallen officers but may not have contact information for some. Survivors are asked to be in touch with the group at Cops Cycling for Survivors, P.O. Box 597, Ellettsville, IN 47429, by calling 812-727-0725, or by emailing 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 copscycling4survivors.com. Cops Cycling for Survivors was granted 501c3 status as a not-for-profit in late 2011 and is no longer directly affiliated with Indiana Concerns of Police Survivors (IN COPS).
The 2018 Cops Cycling for Survivors truck was also unveiled Tuesday. While the group rides in support and memory of all fallen 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 Sgt. Joseph Cox, Jr., Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and Lt. Aaron Allan, Southport Police Department. Cox suffered a fatal heart attack on Feb. 12, 2017, during his tour of duty, while Allan was killed by gunfire on July 20, 2017. Recent line of duty deaths in 2018 will receive special recognition next year.
Dates and route locations for the 2018 Cops Cycling for Survivors ride are:
- July 9 – Indianapolis to Columbus
- July 10 – Columbus to Madison
- July 11 – Madison to Jeffersonville
- July 12 – Jeffersonville to Huntingburg
- July 13 – Huntingburg to Princeton
- July 14 – Princeton to Terre Haute
- July 15 – Terre Haute to Kentland
- July 16 – Kentland to Merrillville
- July 17 – Merrillville to Mishawaka
- July 18 – Mishawaka to Angola
- July 19 – Angola to Bluffton
- July 20 – Bluffton to Anderson
- July 21 – Anderson to Indianapolis
As the group rides through locations, area residents are encouraged to show their support for law enforcement officers and the survivors of fallen heroes in whatever meaningful manners may arise.