Life Support Tour support staff saves a State Corrections rider
Team Gloucester
Beyond the 2,500 riders, there are hundreds of personnel who invariably and passionately keep the Unity Tour rolling. From loading and unloading bicycles, to transporting supplies and luggage, to preparing food, to escorting riders through traffic on motors, to providing medical services, the Unity Tour support staff works around the clock before, during and after the ride and is ready to spring into action in a split second.
On the first day of the 2017 Tour, the medical staff responded instantaneously and prevented a tragedy that could have brought the entire event to a screeching halt. State Corrections Local 105 member Michael Gallagher was riding with Chapter 2 when he went into cardiac arrest. Within minutes, two emergency medical technicians and two officers working support responded and brought Gallagher back to life.
“ They performed CPR, defibbed him and brought him back,” Local 105 President Brian Renshaw confirmed when he greeted the multiple members of his team who rode and supported this year’ s ride at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Gallagher, who serves as the Local 105 third executive vice president, was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden and two days later underwent triple bypass surgery. He is doing rehab and recovery now and coming along well, according to Renshaw.
When Gallagher went down, the other members of Local 105 spread throughout the various chapters riding and working support seemed to know almost immediately. As is the Local 105 way, they all tried to take some action to help Gallagher.
“ I was with Chapter 1, but I received a call like five minutes after, asking‘ did you hear what happened to Mike?’” related Local 105 member Eric Milstein who worked support this year for the first time.“ He’ s a good friend of mine, and I’ m like,‘ wow.’ But it might
From left, State Corrections Local 105 members supporting the Unity Tour included Nicholas Bunnell, Mike Tirado, President Brian Renshaw, State Delegate Ray Heck, Eric Milstein and Sean Sprich.
have been the best thing that could have happened to him. If there is anywhere he’ s going to have a heart attack, being on the Tour with all those EMTs and thousands of officers saved his life.”
After watching the Tour come into the Memorial the past five years, Milstein decided he wanted to get involved this year and figured support is where he could make the most impact. Given what they endure on a daily basis, corrections officers might be best equipped to provide support the Tour needs.
Mike Tirado, the Local 105 Financial Secretary, moved to support five years ago after riding the Tour for three years. He works medical support and follows an ambulance the entire way from New Jersey to Washington, D. C. Toward the end of the ride, his support team had to respond to another medical situation.
“ We got to him within three minutes, called the local hospital and took care of what we had to take care of,” Tirado explained.“ And because of that, he was able to finish the ride.”
Support might not be a glamorous detail, but every rider will tell you the Tour doesn’ t make it even one mile without the hundreds who take on the challenge. Included in their ranks the past few years has been NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan, whose busy schedule transferred him from riding to supporting Chapter VII.
Providing for those who ride seems to carry a certain honor that Milstein noted will keep him coming back to the gig as many years as possible.
“ It’ s long days, but it’ s great to take care of your brother officers,” he added.“ When they come in – especially on a rainy day – they get off that road, you make sure they get dry and make sure they have what they need. Then you help put the bikes back on the roads and start their day again.” d
A story behind the names
Ten years. Edison Local 75 members Mike Ciampi and Sal Pilannino have been riding the Unity Tour together for a whole decade.
Like many other officers, Ciampi and Pilannino, two of the 14 Local 75 members who completed the ride this year, participate in training rides throughout the year to prepare for the difficult ride. Maybe what makes it so emotional for both of them is the fallen officers for whom they choose to ride.
Ciampi rode for Officer Douglas Barney from Utah, who was fatally wounded while responding to a car accident in 2016. Ciampi chose Barney when he came across a magazine article and learned that Barney’ s son plays hockey like Ciampi’ s son. The weekend that Barney died, his son had a hockey game and every first responder in Barney’ s town came to support him.
Pilannino usually chooses to ride for a fallen officer whose name has been inscribed on the Memorial Wall for several years. In 2016, he rode for Officer Sandra Wagner, the first Delaware State Trooper to die in the line of duty in 1996. Pilannino met Wagner’ s parents at the Memorial two years ago, and after talking to them he vowed to
ride for her. In fact, this year her parents attended the ride and Pilannino gifted her with a candle for Mother’ s Day.
This year he chose to ride for Marshall Dale Perry from the St. Helena, Oregon Police Department. Perry died in a motorcycle accident in 1923.
Ciampi and Pilannino pledged that they have many more officers to honor, so this 10th will definitely not be their last.
Edison Local 75 members Mike Ciampi( left) and Sal Pilannino.
“ I hope to be doing this ride until I am no longer physically able,” Pilannino declared.“ That’ s how much this ride means to Mike and me.” d www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ JUNE 2017 45