Unity Riders Honor Fallen Manchester Officer During Trip To Washington

About 150 bicyclists made their way from Howell to Manchester's municipal complex to honor a fallen township officer during the Police Unity Tour.

The riders, on their way to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., stopped at the Manchester Police Department to honor officer Robert Tobias, who was killed during a traffic stop on Route 70 in 1975 when he was struck by a car left that the roadway.

Tobias was 23-years-old at the time of his death and had been on the force for one year.

In remarks given after the riders arrived at the department, Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski said that each officer shares the spirit of sacrifice that Tobias exhibited and may one day be required to lay down their lives.

"As law enforcement officers, you are no different than Robert in the sense that you willingly and without hesitation put your lives on the line in service to your fellow citizens," he said.

Tobias' brother, John Tobias, said that, despite being 60-years-old, he will make the nearly 200 mile trek to honor his brother because "he would have done it."

"He was a very special and unique young man," he said. "I wanted to give something back."

Ptl. Robert Sharry has biked the route each of the five years Manchester has participated and said that it provides the community a way to "honor the police officers who have fallen."

"To ride into the memorial is like no other feeling you can have," he said.

Sharry is biking the route to Washington, D.C. along with five Manchester officers, John Tobias and one support officer.

Elanor Tobias, mother of the fallen officer, was presented with a gold rose by Klimakowski.

Following the service, riders biked about 12 miles to mile marker 36 on Route 70 to lay a wreath in the area where Tobias was killed.

Following the ceremony, bikers will travel to the Whiting Volunteer Fire Co. where had lunch before continuing the journey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., where they are expected to arrive on May 12.

The driver who struck Tobias during a traffic stop was charged with death by auto, operating an unsafe vehicle and possession of a controlled substance, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

"They gave the ultimate sacrifice for their community and we have to have some way for them to live on," Klimakowski said. "This is a big thing."