The Police Unity Tour was first organized in May of 1997 by Officer Patrick Montoure of the Florham Park Police Department with the hope of brining public awareness of Police Officers who have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices. The Unity Tour started with 18 riders on a four day fundraising bicycle ride from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Police Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. The riders now number in the hundreds. The motto “WE RIDE FOR THOSE WHO DIED” inspired the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to select The Police Unity Tour to be the sponsor of the Museum Hall of Remembrance to which raised funds support.
The Central Jersey chapter, Chapter 10, of the Police Unity Tour is led by President Andy Chaney (Jackson PD retired) and Treasurer Bob Obsuth (Point Boro PD retired), both residents of Point Boro. This year they will be joined by Point Boro Officers Chris Henrich and Rich Otto during the ride to Washington.
Recently, they were joined by Mayor Robert A. Sabosik and Chief Richard Larsen at Wells Fargo Bank on Bridge Avenue where bank representatives presented them with a $1,000.00 donation for this year’s Police Unity Tour. Denise Tobias, Service Manager at Wells Fargo, has a personal connection with the Tour. Her brother, Manchester Township Officer Robert Tobias was killed in the line of duty in 1975 at only 23 years old. According to Denise, “The Tour is so important to all of the surviving families knowing that their loved ones are not forgotten.”
According to Bob Obsuth, this year will be the first year the Tour will stop in Point Pleasant to honor Marshall Arnold Johnson who was killed in the line of duty on July 22, 1928. Arnold Johnson at 23 years old, was appointed the Marshall of the Borough of Point Pleasant on June 1, 1928 and killed almost two months later. The riders should be arriving at Borough Hall between 2PM and 2:30PM on May 9th to pay tribute.
According to Mayor Sabosik, “We are honored to have the Police Unity Tour stop here for the first time in its history to honor one of the Boro’s fallen. Our officers past and present put their lives on the line to protect our community and it is important to keep their memories alive after a tragedy happens.”
A fundraiser for the Police Unity Tour is being held on January 30th between 1PM and 5PM at The Windward Tavern in Brick Township. Tickets are $20.00 apiece and can be purchased at Wells Fargo Bank on Bridge Avenue from Bob Obsuth or Denise Tobias. Tickets can also be purchased in Borough Hall in the Borough Administrator’s Office.
