Gloucester News

School Resource officer Petrowicz rides in annual Police Unity Tour

Reporter Maddison Pierson

The Police Unity Tour is an annual event that helps raise money for the upkeep of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is also a way for them to raise money for the recently opened Law Enforcement museum, which is also in D.C.

The event is not just for raising money, though. The officers who participate also want to raise awareness of officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The event gives officers a place to tell their stories and pay respects for those who've passed on.

The Police Unity Tour is a 250 mile long bike marathon that starts in Portsmouth, Virginia and ends at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. Participating in this year's event was GHS resource officer, and cycling enthusiast, Lieutenant Joe "Petro" Petrowicz.

This is not Sgt. Petro's first time participating in the event; this annual meetup has created traditions with friends and this also allows new people to be invited into other's lives. “After we hit up hill, we eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” says Officer Petro, “That's like our whole thing sometimes. We sing that song and a few officers have peanut and jelly socks. That’s a huge highlight for them.”

“I get to see people from previous year,” he adds. “It's better to actually see them then little chats on Facebook to see how they are doing.”

That is one of the many upsides of the 250 mile long cycling trip for Petro: “One year we met up with the L.E.U and the money they raise goes to a camp for the fallen officers children. We met up with them and rode through the Marine Corp museum. I'm a former Marine, so I love that aspect of it.”

The fact that these people are riding for those who have fallen should make this event have a sad undertone, but the officers don’t believe this should be looked upon as sad. They believe that they have to ride for those who can’t, and cheer their name as loud as they can.

Somewhere between a 130 to 170 officers fall a year. Last year, 177 officers were killed, but 321 names have been added after officers that have died in the past before the wall was put up have been added. There are two people specifically that Officer Petro would like to highlight for their service and sacrifice: Trooper Chad Dermyer, who died on march 31, 2016 and LT Trooper Singleton, who died December 7, 1993.

Our GHS Resource officer would like to say one last thing: “I would like to thank everyone that donated out here at Gloucester High School. We had to raise 2,000 dollars to ride… and for the wall. I would like to thank both the teachers and the students.”