PHOTOS: Jersey City Police Unity Tour Honors Fallen Officers

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The Hudson Street waterfront was a sea of blue on Tuesday morning as dozens of Jersey City police officers and their families gathered to honor the 25th anniversary of the Police Unity Tour.

This year, 50 Jersey City police officers are participating in the bike ride to Washington, D.C. to honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. Despite the tour being shortened from four days to a one-day ride due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jersey City Police Cycling Team still worked hard to raise $100,000 in donations for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum, and to bring awareness to the cause.

A ceremony to kick off the ride was held at J. Owen Grundy Pier on Tuesday. Jersey City police officers, cycling team members and families packed the pier. Mayor Steven Fulop as well as city councilors were present as well.

The event honored five families of Jersey City police officers who died in the line of duty as well, the Infantes family, who lost Police Officer Domenick J. Infantes Jr. in 2001, the DiNardo family, who lost Det. MarcAnthony DiNardo in 2009, Cathy McBride, who lost her son Det. Melvin Santiago in 2014, the Robataeu family who lost Lt. Christopher Robateau in 2018 and the Seals family who lost Det. Joseph Seals in 2019.

Gwen DiNardo spoke of her father to the crowd and his love for the profession and the unity tour.

"My dad was killed in the line of duty when I was only four-years-old," Gwen said, "My dad's bike hangs on our wall at home — every year my mom, brother, sister and I drive down to D.C. I hope to ride down to D.C. in three years with the Police Unity Tour."

Mayor Fulop briefly addressed the crowd as well, thanking officers for their service and wishing riders a safe trip. He added that officials understand the tension police face today and appreciate their service.

"The ride today serves as a good example and a reminder of the sacrifices that officers make every single day when they put that uniform on and we appreciate that, we've seen our share of loss here in the department," Fulop said.

Here are some photos from the event: