One veteran officer is making his 19th ride to Washington, D.C.
NEWARK -- Seventeen Newark police officers set off Monday to join colleagues from around the country on a 320-mile bike tour in honor of officers who died in the line of duty.
Hernandez Thomas, who recently retired from the city's force, is making his 19th trip for the annual Police Unity Tour.
"It's a very grueling 320-mile ride, but the cause it is for is unbelievable," Thomas said before departing from Newark. "After 19 years, I still get the butterflies in my stomach, I still get the goose bumps and I still get teary-eyed."
Thomas said the riders see strong support as they pedal to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
"It's something that you never forget if you do this ride," he added.
Hundreds of riders stopped Monday for a ceremony at Newark's fallen officers memorial on Franklin Street, where families of those who died, law enforcement officers from around the area and city police brass, joined them.
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A bugler played taps and riders departed under a giant American flag raised between two Newark fire trucks.
Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose called the ceremony and ride a morale booster for officers. The director said he would be in D.C. on Thursday when cyclists arrive at the national memorial.
"They're [riders] going to be wet, they're going to be cold, they're going to be sweaty, they're going to be tired, but every pedal is going to the 128 police officers, who went to work last year and never came back," Ambrose said.
Several family members of fallen Newark police also attended the ceremony, including the mother of Detective Michael Morgan, Jr., who was gunned-down as he tried to stop a robbery in Paterson.
Additionally, the ceremony recognized family members of Detective Thomas S. Adubato, who was killed Aug. 17, 1918 as he tried to arrest a murder suspect. Despite his own wounds, the detective carried another detective who was shot down five flights of stairs to safety.
Newark Fraternal Order of Police President James Stewart Jr. said the ride helped show support for the families of fallen officers.
"We're here with them," Stewart said as he prepared for the ride. "We want them to know they're not going through this alone."
The Police Unity Tour was launched by Florham Park Police Officer Patrick Montuore with 18 riders in 1997 and has since swelled to about 1,700 officers.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.