By staff report
A police officer never forgets a fallen brother, and this year two Princeton Township officers are participating in a charity bike ride to honor two officers who died more than 46 years ago.
The memory of Princeton Township officer Billie Ellis will be honored by Sgt. Geoff Maurer, who is riding in officer Ellis’ memory during the Police Unity Tour this week.
Officer Ellis drowned on Aug., 19, 1955, while attempting to rescue two young boys whose canoe became swamped in Lake Carnegie after a period of heavy flooding as a result of Hurricane Diane. Officer Ellis and both boys drowned. Officer Ellis was off duty at the time but responded to the scene to rescue the boys.
Township Patrolman Chris King will be riding to honor the memory of NJ State Police Trooper Anthony Lukis Jr. who was shot to death on May 4, 1966, when he stopped to check on a car parked along the New Jersey Turnpike.
Officers King and Maurer are participating in the Challenge Ride, which leaves from Franklin Township police headquarters in Somerset County. The first day of their ride on May 10 took them on Route 518 through Franklin, Montgomery, out to Lambertville to their first day destination of Philadelphia, a ride of approximately 70 miles.
Day two is from Philadelphia to Baltimore, a ride of more than 100 miles. Day three, approximately 48 miles from Baltimore to Washington to meet up with other officers from other groups who will all ride into the Law Enforcement Memorial site together.
The Police Unity Tour is a national organization formed to recognize the sacrifices of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
So far in 2012, there have been 36 law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Each officer needed to raise a minimum of $1,800 to participate. Anyone wishing to make a donation can write a check to PBA 387 and on the memo portion write Police Unity Tour; the checks can be mailed to PBA 387, 1 Valley Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.

