Police Officers Unite for Fallen Colleagues

The mood was jubilant as police officers from Parsippany and Mountain Lakes and their supporters gathered Tuesday night at the . They were there to celebrate their participation in and collect funds for the 15th annual .

Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the nation and even overseas will ride bicycles starting on May 9 from East Hanover to the nation's capital to raise funds to honor fallen officers and to assist the families they left behind. 

This is the fifth year members of the will participate in the Unity Tour. Each team must raise a minimum of $15,750 to qualify for the more than 300-mile ride. Much of the money raised goes toward building a National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial and Museum in Washington.

Nine riders representing Parsippany-Troy Hills will make the journey: Capt. Paul Philipps, Sgt. Keith Lefferts, Officer Michael Ruggier, Det. Daniel Cicala, Officer Gian Cacioppo, Officer Jason Lubeck (the team's unofficial captain), Officer Damon Farms, Officer Michael Sprung and FBI Special Agent Kate Kelley.

"It's challenging," said Lefferts, who is making the trip for the second time. "We have some laughs along the way."

The Tour starts in New Jersey. On its first day, riders make their way to Ground Zero in New York City. From there, they travel to Edison. On Day 2, the officers bike to Wilmington, Del., and the Day 3 destination is Annapolis, Md. On the final day of the trek, the riders land in Washington at the site of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. There, officers will stage a candlelight vigil in honor of their fallen brothers and sisters.

"They bring in the families and add new plaques with the names" of the most recent officers who have died in the line of duty, Lefferts said. "Being there...it's surreal."

The memorial in Washington is being expanded to include an interactive museum that will present a history of law enforcement. Funds also go to help families of fallen officers and to operate a camp for children who have lost their mom or dad.

"It's one of the greatest experiences," Kelley said when asked why she was biking in her second Police Unity Tour. "It's really about unity. There is no gender, no agency, no rank. I'm proud to be part of it."

Mountain Lakes officer Shawn Bennett has been a Unity Tour rider for the past 10 years.

"It's a great cause," Bennett said. "I do it to remember my brothers and sisters who gave their lives on the job. As hard as it is to ride 300 miles, it's not nearly as hard as it is for the loved ones they leave behind."

The Gillespie family—Eugene, Rosemary and Eugene Jr.—owns the Blackthorn Pub in Parsippany and another in Kenilworth. They said their sponsorship of Tuesday's event was motivated by their longtime support for law enforcement officers.

"I won the Silver Card, the highest civilian award in law enforcement in Richfield," Rosemary Gillespie said. "My husband, Eugene, won it in Richfield. We believe in supporting officers. Police are family people, and so are we."

Farms, a Parsippany police officer, returned from active Air Force duty in 2010 and was unable to ride in last year's tour. Instead, he participated in a "support capacity."

"I remember seeing all these guys weather-beaten after coming in from their ride," he said. 

This year, Farms will join his colleagues by suiting up and riding. He said he is proud to take on the challenge.

"You fly with your squad, you crash with your squad," he said. "You fly for the brothers who can no longer do it."

If you would like to support the cause, send a check payable to “Police Unity Tour” to the Parsippany Police Department at 3339 U.S. Highway 46, Parsippany, NJ 07054. On the envelope, be sure to include "Attention: Captain P. Philipps."