OBPD officers participate in 2018 Police Unity Tour

The officers, along with Chief Jesse Godfrey, rode almost 250 miles in three days.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 6:30 p.m. May 21, 2018

OBPD Sgt. Mike Pavelka, Capt. Chris Roos, Chief Jesse Godfrey and Cpl. Josh DeLong during the 2018 Police Unity Tour. Courtesy photo

Ormond Beach Observer
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Four members of the Ormond Beach Police Department recently participated in a three-day bike ride to commemorate fallen officer, Bob Grim, and others across the nation during National Police Week.

Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey, Capt. Chris Roos, Sgt. Mike Pavelka and Cpl. Josh DeLong biked a total of 248.2 miles and an elevation of almost 1.5 miles during the 2018 Police Unity Tour, which began in Portsmouth, Virginia, and ended at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The department has participated in the tour since 2013.

The Police Unity Tour was first organized in 1997 by Florham Park Police Department Officer Patrick Montoure to bring public awareness and honor the sacrifice of officers that have died in the line of duty. The initial tour featured 18 people riding their bicycles from Florham Park, New Jersey, to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. It raised $18,000.

Over $20 million has been donated to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund since then.