Police Unit y Tour
Berkeley Township Local 237
Honor thy father
Michael Roth stretched out on the lawn at the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial with the six other members from
Berkeley Township Local 237 who has just completed the Unity
Tour. As they rehydrated, Roth considered why they had ridden all
this way to honor and remember.
The fallen officers whose names were on the Memorial walls
behind him and across from him provided the motivation for the
Tour. And so did the man standing next to him.
That would be his father, Christian Roth, who retired from Berke-
ley Township after nearly 38 years. Michael and his younger broth-
er Ryan each have made the Tour multiple times. Christian worked
Tour support again this year. They certainly ride for those who died.
And the Unity Tour also rides for those who came before them, who
put in the hard work to perpetuate the service that makes the pro-
fession – and the Tour – so remarkable.
“My dad gave us that work ethic, you know, just keep working
hard,” Michael stated. “My brothers and I all got that. We all have
succeeded because of that.”
Christian showed how the job has made him 66 years young by
loading up a trailer every day and pulling it with a van. He set up
refreshments or meals at every stop for the Local 237 team. At the
end of each day, he took the group out for dinner.
His presence seemed to be an asset that helped the Berkeley
Township riders through the heat, the win