Police Unity Tour Makes Stop at Warminster Police Headquarters

More than 250 police officers from around the country parked their bicycles at the Warminster Police Department building Tuesday afternoon for a lunch break during the annual Police Unity Tour.

Beginning that morning in Florham Park, N.J., the riders made their first stop in Lambertville, N.J., traveled to the Warminster Township building to rest, then rode on to Target for the final break of the day before riding to the overnight pit stop in Center City.

Wednesday morning, the route will take the officers through Delaware and much of Maryland, with this year's tour ending on Thursday with a ceremony in Washington, D.C. In total, the officers will have traveled more than 300 miles in three days.

"There's such a great sense of camaraderie while they are riding," said Warminster Township Manager Bob Tate, who had been asked to participate in the Lambertville-Warminster leg of the tour. "It was such an honor to be invited to ride along."

The tour began in 1997, with a handful of New Jersey officers that wanted to raise awareness and money for police officers killed in the line of duty and their family members. Since then, participation has spanned the country, with more than 1,200 members of the charity who either take the ride or participate in rider support and closing ceremonies.

It is the second year of biking the route for Sgt. David Erenius, an officer with the Warminster police department for eight years and member of the department's bike unit.

"It's just great to be a part of it," said Erenius. "I mean, look at the motto on the back of the shirts. 'We ride for those who died.' That says it all right there."

Erenius is using this year's ride to raise money for the family of Horace Callaghan. An officer with the Prospect Park Police in Ridley, Pa., Callaghan was struck and killed by a drunk driver on Dec. 21, 1940, while directing traffic. He is also the grandfather of Warminster police officer Renee Fox.

The Police Unity Tour has raised more than $8 million for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, making it one of the largest financial supporters.