Unity Ride Journey Begins Today

The Police Unity Tour kicks off this afternoon at the State Patrol Post in Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac Police Detective Bill Ledger will be riding for the fourth year. He says they will fly to Philadelphia and ride the remaining 300 miles on their bicycles to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. Thirty-six riders from Wisconsin will be participating. Fond du Lac Police Officer Craig Birkholz was shot and killed in a standoff in March of 2011. His father Bill and brother Paul will be driving a vehicle with the bikes and equipment out east for the riders. They start today. Ledger says the Unity Ride helps launch National Police Week. He says State Troopers will represent Trooper Trevor Casper who was shot and killed in a shoot out with a bank robber in Fond du Lac in March of last year, and McFarland Police will represent Police Officer Ryan Copeland who was killed in a traffic accident while on duty. Trooper Casper’s name has been added to the national monument this year. The moving candlelight vigil at the Nation’s Capitol is on May 13th. Ledger will be a guest on KFIZ’s Behind the Badge at 9:10 a.m. this morning.