Team Mercer comes out in force
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
They ride for those who died; that will always be the fuel to bike more than 300 miles in three days.
But if this year’ s Unity Tour was also an opportunity to ride for those who feel the pride, then that would add the fuel to the fire that brought out nearly 60 riders from Team Mercer. Team Mercer included riders from Locals throughout the county hubbed with Ewing Township Local 111 and Hamilton Township Local 66.
“ It’ s been a tough couple years for law enforcement, and I think everybody was feeling the pride and the team spirit of law enforcement just came together,” explained Local 111 member Chris Boller about the presence of Team Mercer.“ It shows the brotherhood that we have seeing everybody out there in a sea of blue. It’ s really
something amazing.”
The groundwork for Team Mercer began to form during the 2015 Tour when Ewing brought seven riders and 15 came from Hamilton Township to ride for the first time. After that Tour, word began to spread as if Team Mercer were the No. 1 topic trending. And pride proved to be very powerful.
Local 66 member Ralph Fiasco has been tracking the Tour for most of his 20 years on the job, and the combination of turning 40 years old this year and so many officers from around the county getting on board got him rolling.
“ I don’ t know what took me so long to get on board but it just was like one of those things – why not?” Fiasco said.“ It just got around the department pretty quickly, and it worked out that we were able to put in the time and get down here.”
Here, of course, would be the National Law Enforcement Memorial where the Unity Tour rode in to climax the 20th anniversary edition. Team Mercer spread
out for more than two blocks making its entrance to the finish, and the team’ s long-and-winding presence could be seen throughout the ride.
Boller noted the team drew needed inspiration from people in the towns they rode through coming out to see them and especially kids coming out of school to cheer them on. Although such adulation could have made them feel special – and should have – the pride came more from the participation.
“ We just happen to wear blue uniforms,” Fiasco added.“ It was like a big family ride out there – a lot of smoking and joking and all that stuff. It was definitely worth it.” d
n BY JENNIFER TRATTLER
32 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ JUNE 2016
Daddy-daughter duo
Anyone who is a father knows how difficult it can be to say“ no” to your little girl. Imagine that little girl asked to ride alongside her father for something as significant as the Police Unity Tour; there’ s no way a dad could turn down that offer.
However, when Margate City Local 65 member Jess Fane asker her father, Atlantic County Sheriff’ s Department Chief Keith Fane to join in on her first ride in 2014, he thought of the nearly 300-mile stretch and his first instinct was to say“ no.”
“ When my daughter became an officer, she wanted to ride and I said‘ Oh good, have fun,’” recalled 55-year-old Keith Fane.“ But, she said,‘ No dad, I want you to come with( me).’ I tried to tell her I was too old for it, but we’ ve been riding together ever since and it’ s a nice bond.”
Local 65 member Jess Fane might have used a special bond to sway her father, but the experience they’ ve shared over the past three years has reached beyond family ties to recruit members from both departments to join Team Atlantic County.
Local 65 member Jennifer Queeney, a 10-year veteran officer, overheard 25-yearold Fane discussing the upcoming ride. Queeney finally got over the hump that held her back from participating and, two weeks before the Unity Tour, she picked up her bike and started training.
“ It was the most humbling experience of my life,” related Queeney.“ You’ re drained, your body is tired and your muscles are sore, but you power through. In the end, no matter how sore I feel, I feel strong, empowered and humbled.”
Queeney vowed to cycle“ 20,000 more times and well into retirement.”
Once one cycles into the last leg of the Unity Tour and pedals into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to see the 27,000-plus names, there’ s no sitting at home the following year.
“ I think this year was better than any year, but I’ m hoping to say that every year,” reiterated Jess Fane.“ I get emotional every time. You remember why you’ re doing this, and think about all the things you can do in your career to keep your name off the wall.”
From left, Atlantic County Sheriff’ s Department Chief Keith Fane, Margate City Local 65 member Jess Fane, New Jersey Homeland Security Officer Lauren Laielli, Margate City Local 65 member Jennifer Queeney and Atlantic County Sheriff’ s Department Local 243 member Victor Guadalupe celebrate after arriving at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during the 2016 Police Unity Tour.
That sentiment seems to pass through many officers’ minds after honoring the legacy of the fallen throughout the entire Unity Tour.
“ For me, as a father of a police officer, she’ s still my little girl,” stressed Keith Fane.“ So it’ s a humbling experience that you need to keep in the back of your mind – you don’ t want her name ever to make that wall.” d