There’s a first time for everything
Monroe Township Local 255 members participated in the Police
Unity Tour last year for the first time and, after a year of listening to
their tales from the road, four more members were convinced to join
in on the action.
“They said it was something you should definitely do once at least
once,” recognized Local 255 member Robert Selden who dusted off
his bicycle along with members Mark Salemi, Justin Caruso and Tom
Lucasiewicz.
They all agreed in unison their future recruitment tale would be
about the experience at an elementary school in Jackson.
“The students lined up on both sides of the road,” described
Selden. “They were yelling, holding signs and giving us high-fives.
That really gave us motivation.”
The ability to spread awareness for fallen officers to the community’s youngest members was just the incentive needed to get through
the most tumultuous part of the ride – the hills – to arrive at the final
stop.
“It’s surreal,” declared Selden. “You forget how much your body
hurts and how anyone of those guys on the wall would give anything
to trade places. I was expecting to leave at some point, but you go all
the way around. It was endless.”d
-Jennifer Trattler
Feeling the presence of a fallen brother
The magic of the Unity Tour or some other phenomenon that
makes it unique lifted the four riders from the Cliffside Park Police
Department from the moment they mounter their bikes. Riding for
fallen Local 96 brother Stephen Petruzzello, who was lost in December 2014, Tony Frato admitted feeling something supernatural along
the way.
“When you’re riding for someone, you feel his presence, thinking
about the sacrifice he made and keeping his memory alive,” said Frato, a retired captain riding for the second consecutive year for Petruzzello who was killed a month after graduating from the academy.
“Think of a time when – everyone has one time in their life when
they’re really inspired and they have a really good feeling,” he continued. “Well, we had that feeling for five days. It’s amazing.”
Joining with Local 96 members J.D. York on his third Tour, Sergio
Khanukayev on his second ride, and Sal Spato riding for the first time,
Frato commented how they were all inspired this year by the greeting
they received when coming into the Law Enforcement Memorial at
the end. He explained how that’s what all law enforcement officers
can think about when they have to get up and go to work each day.
“It’s almost like a surprise party,” Frato commented. “You don’t
expect it. You walk in and they yell, ‘surprise’ for your
birthday. That’s what this is like.” d
-Mitchell Krugel
Joyride
36
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ JUNE 2016
The highlight of West Essex Local 81 officer Frank
Tracey’s Unity Tour is always the big welcome he receives from his
greeting party: his children, his girlfriend Lisa Reilly and her children
at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
“It’s by far the best moment of the entire tour,” emphasized Tracey,
who has served on the Fairfield Police Department for 15 years. “Riding through the walls of the Memorial and seeing them literally right
at the end was great. They gave me the biggest hug.”
Tracey completed his first Unity Tour last year and is the first in
Fairfield Police Department’s history to ride.
“My co-worker Ian Rasmussen pushed me to join and right before
the tour he got hurt,” explained Tracey. “I’m very proud and happy to
represent my department in a positive way for an awesome cause.”
Tracey loves the ride, but his kids might enjoy it even more.
“They all specifically requested to come down,” he relayed. “While
waiting for me to arrive, my son collected police patches from across
the nation. They seriously wouldn’t miss this and we’ll be coming
back every single year.” d
-Jennifer Trattler