INDIANAPOLIS– Monday, July 8, 2024, marks the start of the 23rd annual Cop Cycling for Survivors bicycle ride around Indiana.
The ride pays respects to Indiana’s fallen law enforcement heroes and lets their survivors know they and their loved ones are not forgotten. The motto of Cops Cycling for Survivors is “Riding to Remember,” and each year, the group works to honor officers killed in the line of duty throughout Indiana’s history.
A departure ceremony is planned for 8:00 a.m. EDT at the Police and Fire Fighters Memorial on the east side of the Indiana Government Center North in downtown Indianapolis. The ceremony includes comments by Amy Gaston-Stehr, a survivor of Trooper Richard Gaston, and Amy Elson, a survivor of Trooper Cory Elson.
Cyclists will depart for their 13-day journey around the state after the ceremony.
While Cops Cycling for Survivors honors all Indiana’s line-of-duty death officers, recognized by state and federal officials as receiving line-of-duty death benefits, this year’s ride pays special tribute to the seven (7) officers who died in 2023:
- Deputy Asson Hacker, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, End of Watch March 2, 2023;
- Master Trooper James R. Bailey, Indiana State Police, End of Watch March 3, 2023;
- Maintenance Foreman Michael Robert Keel, Indiana Department of Correction, End of Watch April 12, 2023;
- Trooper Aaron N. Smith, Indiana State Police, End of Watch June 28, 2023;
- Sergeant Heather Glenn, Tell City Police Department, End of Watch July 3, 2023;
- Deputy Sheriff John Durm, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, End of Watch July 10, 2023;
- Deputy Sheriff Timothy J. Guyer, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, End of Watch August 1, 2023.
Officers recognized by state and federal officials as line-of-duty deaths in 2024 will be honored in 2025.
The Cops Cycling for Survivors annual bike ride consists of active and retired police officers, law enforcement survivors, law enforcement family members, and friends of law enforcement riding their bicycles around the perimeter of Indiana to raise funds and awareness of the sacrifices made by Hoosier law enforcement families across Indiana. Funds raised from this event are used to perpetuate the memories of officers killed in the line of duty and to aid surviving family members and co-workers of officers killed in the line of duty. Previously raised funds have been directly donated to foundations, scholarships, and camps that have been started in memory of fallen officers or by Indiana survivors in honor of their fallen heroes.
The ride is scheduled to conclude the afternoon of Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Crown Hill Cemetery, Heroes of Public Safety Section. The closing ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. Retired Indiana State Troopers Rich and Niki Crawford, who were instrumental in perpetuating Cops Cycling for Survivors, will provide the closing message. All are welcome to attend.
Dates and route for the 2024 Cops Cycling for Survivors ride are:
- July 8, Indianapolis – Richmond
- July 9, Richmond – Bluffton
- July 10, Bluffton – Angola
- July 11, Angola – Mishawaka
- July 12, Mishawaka – Merrillville
- July 13, Merrillville – Kentland
- July 14, Kentland – Terre Haute
- July 15, Terre Haute – Evansville
- July 16, Evansville – Tell City
- July 17, Tell City – Jeffersonville
- July 18, Jeffersonville – Madison
- July 19, Madison – Columbus
- July 20, Columbus – Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis
Additional information on specific locations of meals and overnights can be found by clicking on the Route tab of the website. Click view calendar and the month of July at http://www.copscycling4survivors.org/events.php.
To track the ride’s progress, stops, and activities, please like and follow them on the Cops Cycling for Survivors Foundation Facebook page (Cops Cycling for Survivors). For more information about the organization, donations, or this year’s ride, visit http://www.copscycling4survivors.org/.
