2008 Woodie Awards
A ride to remember
SIUE Police hosts group cycling for fallen officers
Megan McClure
Issue date: 7/5/07 Section: News
When 28-year-old Det. Craig Dorwart was killed in an automobile accident while on duty for the Morgan County Sheriff's Department in 1994, he left behind a grieving wife and a three-year-old son.
Thirteen years later, Carrie Dorwart and her now-16-year-old son, Keith, are using their experience to help the families of other law enforcement officials killed in the line of duty. They have become active in Concerns of Police Survivors, COPS for short, an organization that provides support and funds for the families of surviving family members.
"It's to give back what's been given to me," Carrie Dorwart said.
On June 27, a group of 26 cyclists and a support team stayed overnight on the SIUE campus before the COPS Ride Across Illinois 2007. The three-day, 350-mile ride, which worked its way from Alton to Chicago, took place in honor of Illinois' fallen officers.
"We rode a part of the ride last year," Dorwart said. "This is the first time we've signed on to do it all."
The Illinois chapter of COPS was founded by Jennifer Morales in 2005. Morales originally became active in COPS in Washington D.C. after her husband, Officer Marlon Morales, was gunned down while on duty with the Metro Transit Police Department in Washington, D.C.
"We came back and Illinois hadn't had a chapter yet, so we got it started," she said.
COPS offers a variety of services for officers' families, including retreats and camps for surviving family members. Events like the Ride Across Illinois are designed to recognize fallen officers and promote awareness.
Along the ride, the group - comprised of law enforcement officers, surviving family members and other friends - stopped at various locations to recognize specific individuals. FBI Special Agent Robert Hardesty, who was killed in a training accident in Quantico, Va., in 2005, was one of those officers.
"We're going to honor him on this ride, so that will be an emotional time," Hardesty's wife, Toni Hardesty, said.
Thirteen years later, Carrie Dorwart and her now-16-year-old son, Keith, are using their experience to help the families of other law enforcement officials killed in the line of duty. They have become active in Concerns of Police Survivors, COPS for short, an organization that provides support and funds for the families of surviving family members.
"It's to give back what's been given to me," Carrie Dorwart said.
On June 27, a group of 26 cyclists and a support team stayed overnight on the SIUE campus before the COPS Ride Across Illinois 2007. The three-day, 350-mile ride, which worked its way from Alton to Chicago, took place in honor of Illinois' fallen officers.
"We rode a part of the ride last year," Dorwart said. "This is the first time we've signed on to do it all."
The Illinois chapter of COPS was founded by Jennifer Morales in 2005. Morales originally became active in COPS in Washington D.C. after her husband, Officer Marlon Morales, was gunned down while on duty with the Metro Transit Police Department in Washington, D.C.
"We came back and Illinois hadn't had a chapter yet, so we got it started," she said.
COPS offers a variety of services for officers' families, including retreats and camps for surviving family members. Events like the Ride Across Illinois are designed to recognize fallen officers and promote awareness.
Along the ride, the group - comprised of law enforcement officers, surviving family members and other friends - stopped at various locations to recognize specific individuals. FBI Special Agent Robert Hardesty, who was killed in a training accident in Quantico, Va., in 2005, was one of those officers.
"We're going to honor him on this ride, so that will be an emotional time," Hardesty's wife, Toni Hardesty, said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Martha Burnett
posted 7/08/07 @ 5:38 PM CST
Wondered what cause the bicycle riders were representing on the day described in the article. Now I know what an excellent cause it was all for. Thankyou. (Continued…)
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