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 The 340+ miles ride will begin at the Mississippi River in Alton,
IL and end at the McHenry County Sheriffs' Office in Woodstock. The
riders are law enforcement officers from many different agencies, in
addition to several family survivors and supporters.
During each day, the group will observe dedications to several
officers who have died in the line of duty. As the ride moves across
Illinois, the riders will be joined by law enforcement agencies who
escort them through their jurisdiction. Families, supporters,
universities, agencies and local businesses have also joined to help
feed and provide rest areas for the riders. These generous donations
enable Illinois C.O.P.S. to focus resources that send survivors to a
variety of programs that help them begin healing and form lasting,
supportive relationships with other survivors.
 The ride began in the summer of 2005, with 10 riders and 2 support
trucks. This year, there will be over 50 riders and several
police/support vehicles. Each rider is required to raise a minimum
of $600.00 in donations. This ride began with the inspiration of Lt.
Gary Dudley of the Indiana State Police, who rode with us in July of
2006. In August of that same year, Gary was killed in Indiana doing
a similar ride for survivors in Indiana.
The following is a summary of the ride's tentative itinerary:
Day 1: Thursday, July 14th
- 6:45am -Alton - Ceremonial back tire dip into the
Mississippi River at Alton Marina
- 9:30am - Chesterfield - Chesterfield Community Center
- 12:10pm - Waverly - First Baptist Church (Dorwart family &
friends)
- 3:51pm - Springfield - Illinois Police Memorial 4:54pm -
Springfield - University of Illinois Springfield
Day 2: Friday, July 15th
- 6:45am - Springfield - Riders depart University of
Illinois Springfield
- 8:22am - Sherman - Sherman Fire Protection District
- 10:33am - Lincoln - Lincoln Rural
Fire/LCPA
- 2:08pm -Tremont - Tremont City Park
- 5:40pm - Normal - Illinois State University
Day 3: Saturday, July 16th
- 7:00am - Normal - Riders depart Illinois State
University
- 10:14am - Pontiac - Pontiac Police Department
- 12:15pm - Dwight - Hager Memorial Funeral Home
- 2:47pm - Morris - Loyal Order of Moose Lodge
- 5:22pm - Joliet - Joliet Fire House #10
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 Day 4: Sunday, July 17th
- 8:00am - Lombard - Riders depart The Westin Lombard
- 9:03am - Roselle - Roselle Police Department
- 10:53am - Lake Zurich - Henry J Paulus Park
- 12:08pm - Lakemoor - Thornton's Gas Station
- 1:42pm - Woodstock - McHenry County Sheriff's Office
There are several surviving family members on the ride in
addition to the family members we will be meeting.
From 2015 there were 123 officers names added onto the National
Police Memoria wall. Two were from Illinois Deputy Sheriff Craig
5.
Whisenand, Tazewell County Sheriff's Office, EOW: August 11,2015
and Deputy Sheriff Dwight D. Maness, McHenry County Sheriff's
Office, EOW: September 14, 2015. We are also remembering one
historical officer Patrolman David R. Tapscott, Springfield
Police Department, EOW: December 26, 1979. This year we will
also be honoring eight officers who died in the line of duty
outside of Illinois but have family lining in Illinois.
COPS is extremely grateful to all the departments, universities,
businesses and supporters who host them for their breaks, meals
and overnight accommodations. Through this generosity, our
survivors are able to enrich their lives. The media is welcomed
to meet the ride and riders.
IL COPS is a registered 20lc3 charitable organization. If you
would like to make a donations checks are to be made out to IL
COPS and mailed to:
Concerns Of Police Survivors
Cycle Across Illinois
PO Box 4312
Wheaton, IL 60189
[Illinois C.O.P.S. via Cpl. Maurice
"Mo" Johnson
Lincoln Police Department, participant]
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