A Long Blue Line of Riders to Honor Fallen Officers

Two officers, and also two policewomen from nearby Long Hill Township, were among almost 700 bike riders and motorcycle escorts that were part of the blue-clad Police Unity Tour that left Wednesday morning en route to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Township Patrol Officer Alex McKnight said this will be the fourth year he is participating in the event, a memorial fundraiser for officers killed in the line of duty. As before, he said he is riding to honor Watchung Police Officer Matthew Melchionda, whom he said was killed in an automobile crash while on duty in March 2006.

Bernards Township Patrol Officer Peggy Corsentino said she trained this past year especially to join the Policy Unity Tour for the first time.

The riders, starting on Wednesday morning in Morris County and then stopping to rally forces and enjoy refreshments at the in Basking Ridge, are due to travel about 60 miles on the first and last days of the four-day trip. Thursday and Friday's itinerary is for a "century" ride of 100 miles on each of those days.

Corsentino said the most she has ridden so far is 75 miles in one day. "I hadn't ridden a bike in years, but the Unity Tour was always something I wanted to do," she said on Wednesday morning, while at Verizon.

On Tuesday, she said she is riding in memory of Deputy Sherri Jones of the Bowie County, Texas, Sheriffs Department, shot and killed in the line of duty last April.

"I hope that our participation in the Police Unity Tour makes people aware of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and of officers killled in the line of duty. Officers face unique challenges and stress at work every day, and it's a good feeling to band together an travel to D.C. on this grueling but extremely rewarding journey," Corsentino said in a statement before leaving.

Corsentino will be accompanied on the trip by Long Hill Township Police Sgt. Dolores LoPresti and Long Hill Patrol Officer Missy Sugalski, both of whom said they also had trained with the Police Unity Tour as their inspiration.

About a half-dozen members of the Bernards Township police department were at Verizon on Wednesday to send off the riders, including Police Chief Brian Bobowicz.

Bobowicz said he was proud of the officers, and humbed by their participation and commitment. "This is a big deal," he noted.

According to the organization's website, the Police Unity Tour was launched in May 1997 by Officer Patrick P. Montuore of the Florham Park Police Department to honor and raise public awareness of the sacrifices of police officers who have died in the line of duty.

Tour headed through Bernardsville on way to Somerset Patriots stadium

The ride began from the Ramada on Route 10 in East Hanover on Wednesday morning, and the group's route was to a first stop late Wednesday morning on the grounds at Verizon. The group was ready to take off again shortly before noon.

McKnight said the route into Bernards Township was from Lees Hill Rd in Harding Township, with a right into the Verizon Center off North Maple Avenue.

From there, the tour was to exit Verizon onto North Maple Avenue and head onto 202 South through Bernardsville, McKnight said on Tuesday.

The group was heading to the Somerset Patriots Stadium, to receive a Somerset County sendoff.

Peapack-Gladstone Police Chief Greg Skinner, a rider in past years, said he would not be on this year's tour, but planned to be at the stadium.

The trip's first day itinerary was for 60 miles from East Hanover to Woodbridge, with a 100-mile ride planned to Wilmington, De. on the second day. The third day is scheduled to take the group another 100 miles from Wilmington to Annapolis, Md. That leaves about 60 miles for the final day, on Saturday, May 12, with a tour that has grown into 1,400 nationwide converging at 2 p.m. at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, according to McKnight and information from the website.

According to the Police Unity Tour, this past May announced that for 2011 the event raised a donation of more than $1.5 million for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, bringing our total donations to nearly 10 Million Dollars. McKnight said the local officers were continuing fundraising efforts even after the tour's departure.