Wisconsin riders get ready for Police Unity Tour honoring fallen officers

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Riders taking part in the Police Unity Tour packed up their bikes and supplies Monday for an upcoming ride that honors fallen police officers. 

The bikes are being shipped to Philadelphia. Later this week, more than 250 police officers will begin a four-day bicycle ride from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. in honor of National Police Week. 

The ride will end at the National Law Enforcement Officers' memorial. 

Two Milwaukee police officers killed in the line of duty in 2018, Officers Charles Irvine Jr. and Michael Michalski, will have their names etched onto the memorial. 

"This is one way that we can try to feel a little better and try to honor them and make sure they never get forgotten," said Matthew Rohlinger with the West Bend Police Department. 

This year, there are 54 police officers from Wisconsin participating in the ride. 

Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Rittner, who was killed in February, will be honored at the memorial next year.