Kingston Police join Ride to Remember honouring fallen heroes

Each year, the Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ memorial ride, the Ride to Remember, pays respect to those officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

On Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, the 19^th annual Ride to Remember passed through Kingston on its 700 km bike ride on route to Ottawa. The ride began on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 at 7:20 a.m. at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, and will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Canadian Police and Peace Officers Memorial in Ottawa at 3 p.m.

The purpose of the Ride is to raise awareness of the annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers National Memorial Service, a ceremony that pays tribute to more than 860 fallen officers. The 41^st annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Service will take place at 11 a.m. on Parliament Hill on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019.

This year, four members of the Kingston Police Force will represent the local police service and the Kingston community, paying tribute to five Kingston Police officers who “paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Kingston Police said.

Those officers are:

• Samuel James Arniel:  End of Watch April 19, 1919.
• Merritt Carl Gray:  End of Watch April 29, 1948.
• Millard Brennan:  End of Watch August 15, 1951.
• Thomas Bruce Cooper:  End of Watch November 8, 1973.
• John Lau:  End of Watch July 29, 1978.

For the first time, Kingston Police participants in the Ride are displaying the names of the local fallen officers on the back panel of their jerseys.

“Our officers are very proud to wear this year’s commemorative jersey and to pay their respects to the officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Kingston Police said. The Government of Canada officially proclaimed the last Sunday in September of each year as the Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day in September of 1998.