Ian's 2025 Police Unity Tour Fundraiser

In 1997, Florham Park (NJ) Police Officer Patrick Montuore had a simple idea: organize a four-day bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington, DC to raise public awareness about law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, and to ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten. With that, the Police Unity Tour was formed. 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 9 chapters consisting of nearly 2,600 members nationwide who make the trip annually. Participants include bicycle riders, motorcycles, and support personnel. In May 2022, 2023 and 2024 I had the honor and privilege to ride the 300 mile journey with the Evesham Police Department Team.

I am once again participating in the 2025 Police Unity Tour, however, in a different role. In August of 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Philadelphia Highway Patrol Police Motorcycle Wheel School to receive my Motor Unit certification in order to be able to operate a motorcycle in a law enforcement role. Following my graduation from the school, I had the honor of becoming one of four of the first officers in Evesham Police history to become Motor Unit officers.

A huge part of the Police Unity Tour is ensuring the safety of the bicycle riders through traffic control and police escorts. This year I will have the opportunity to help in this effort as a Motor Unit officer in the police escort. Although I am not riding a bicycle this year, I am still responsible for raising funds in order to provide a donation to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund.

The journey is long and challenging, but for the Police Unity Tour participants it is what they prepare for throughout the year. Through fundraising and physical training, they know that their efforts raise awareness of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many law enforcement officers. The Police Unity Tour concludes at The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., at Judiciary Square, adjacent to the National Law Enforcement Museum. It honors 26,894 U.S. law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty throughout American history dating back to the first known death in 1786. There will be 162 names added this year of officers who died in the line of duty in 2024 along with names of other officers that law enforcement historians have discovered that were never honored for their deaths in years past.

Since its inception, the Police Unity Tour has been proud to donate more than $33 million to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (https://nleomf.org/).

Any support that you might be able to provide to help sponsor my participation in the 2025 Police Unity Tour would be so gratefully appreciated as these funds are used to support the families of our fallen fellow Law Enforcement Officers.

My personal funding obligation/goal is $2,500.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me.

Thank you for support and prayers for a safe Tour this year!

Officer Ian Traver (Badge No. 191) Evesham Township Police Department