Gates PD holds send-off ceremony for Police Unity Bike Tour

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Local participants of the 2022 Police Unity Bike Tour received a send-off ceremony at the Gates Police Department building on Friday.

It’s a 400-mile ride from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. to visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial for Police Memorial Week. The yearly ride honors members of law enforcement who have died in the line of duty during Police Memorial Week.

"The walls of the memorial are inscribed with 22,611 officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty this includes 15 RPD officers 5 NYSP from Troop E, one officer from Gates, one from Webster and 11 deputies from the Sheriff’s Department," said retired RPD Officer Cheryl Fridley.

"It’s not how these officers died that made them heroes but how they lived," Gates Town Supervisor Cosmo Giunta said.

Gates Police held the ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Officers from around the country take part in the annual event. The money raised benefits the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum.