By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
Manville police officers are taking a ride in a few days on their bicycles to help out a worthy cause. Three officers and one of the police dispatchers are riding many miles to help. The officers participated in a practice ride on Saturday which brought them down Main Street in Manville at 9:45 a.m.
Joe Buda, Nick Franzoso, Rich Canuso and dispatcher James Piorkowski are all taking the ride.
”We are participating in the Police Unity Tour,” Officer Buda said. “Approximately 750 officers from all over the country ride from East Hanover, New Jersey, to Washington, D.C., over a four-day period (approximately 100 miles a day). Each rider has to raise $1,800 to ride, which is a donation that goes to families of officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The ride is also to raise awareness of how many officers a year give the ultimate sacrifice. In 2010, 158 officers were killed in the line of duty. So far for 2011, already 64 officers have been killed.”
This will be the fourth year the officers have participated in the ride and made the trip to Washington. According to Officer Buda, “It takes lots of pre-training to prepare for the endurance and cardio needed. It’s a great cause and when I’m struggling on the third day in after 85 miles, I think of the families that no longer have their son, husband, or dad. It helps keep me focused and realize what it’s all about.”
On the Police Unity Tour website, it defines the mission as: “The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. The secondary purpose is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum.”
”In May 1997, the Police Unity Tour® was organized, by Officer Patrick P. Montuore of the Florham Park (N.J.) Police Department, in an effort to bring about public awareness of law enforcement officers that have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices. The tour started with 18 riders on a bicycle ride from Florham Park to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (NLEOM) in Washington, D.C. which raised $18,000.” The motto is “We Ride for Those Who Died.”
Riders depart May 9 and are due to arrive in Washington on May 12 for the Police Unity Tour Arrival Ceremony. On May 13 the 23rd Annual Candlelight Vigil will be held in Washington.
”All of our Manville riders would like to thank Chief (Mark) Peltack for allowing us to participate in the ride,” Officer Buda said.

