Fallen Hero Memorial Ride
In recent months, retired AZDPS employees have joined forces to create a threefold memorial ride. The memorial ride is set to honor our fallen troopers, celebrate the 50th anniversary of AZDPS, and let current troopers know they will never be forgotten.
Terry Johnson, badge #2479, grew tired of only seeing former AZDPS employees at funerals, so over the past couple of years he decided to organize motorcycle rides throughout Arizona, that had many retired police officers in attendance. The scope of Terry’s motorcycle ride has now grown after being contacted by Capt. Michael Denney, badge #1440. They came up with the plan of honoring the fallen, celebrating AZDPS’ anniversary and recognizing current employees with a multi-day charity memorial motorcycle ride happening in late 2019.
The multi-day ride will be comprised of three rides: northern, southern and central Arizona, and will include a visit to all thirty monuments of the fallen AZDPS troopers. While at the monuments, a brief ceremony will be held, a wreath will be placed, and a moment of silence will be observed. At the culmination of each ride, a barbecue will be held in the respective region for AZDPS employees, retirees, ride participants and volunteers, and family members of the fallen troopers and employees to honor those lives and celebrate the 50th anniversary of AZDPS.
The first ride is scheduled to take place on September 21, 2019 and will encompass a ride throughout northern Arizona with a barbecue in Flagstaff. The second ride is scheduled to take place on October 19, 2019 and will encompass a ride throughout southern Arizona with a barbecue in Tucson. The last ride is scheduled for November 2, 2019 and will encompass a ride throughout central Arizona. At the conclusion of the central region ride, participants will gather in Phoenix and ride in parade formation to the AZDPS Headquarters where a ceremony will be held and conclude with a barbecue.
All net money raised during the multi-day event will be donated to the Concerns of Police Survivors, Arizona Chapter (C.O.P.S., AZ). There will be door prizes, raffle prizes, silent auction items and other items that will be given away on the last day of the event, October 19, 2019.
You do not have to ride a motorcycle to be involved in the event. For additional information on riding and the event, please visit the Fallen Hero Memorial Ride event page.
