A team of Chattanooga police officers will set out on their bikes Friday to ride more than 250 miles to raise funds for fallen officers. The effort comes during a year in which one of their own was killed in the line of duty.
It is part of the national Law Enforcement United fundraiser in which thousands of police officers nationwide ride over several days. The ride, now in its 10th year, raised $800,000 last year, and event organizers hope to reach $1 million for this year’s event.
“I enjoy the camaraderie and am also a full supporter in what our finances are going to,” said Chattanooga Police Department Sgt. Justin Kilgore, who is riding in the event.
The money won’t directly impact the family of fallen Chattanooga police officer Nicholas Galinger, who was killed in a February hit-and run, this year as the event provides money to officers killed the previous year. However, he will be on the minds of local officers and his family will be a beneficiary next year.
It’ll be the second time a Chattanooga officer is honored in the event – the first being Chattanooga police Sgt. James Timothy Chapin. Chapin was shot responding to a robbery at the U.S. Money Shop on Brainerd Road in 2011. Jesse Mathews, 25, was charged with felony murder, first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated robbery. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 25 years.