Monday, May 14, 2012
Riders began trek to Washington DC last Wednesday
Arriving at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington DC on Saturday was "an absolutely incredible feeling," said Manchester Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski, who completed the ride with six other township officers. "To see so many people lining the streets, the roar of the motor units (which came from as far as the Los Angles Police Department), the sound of a bag piper and the cheers from the crowd was just incredible," he said in an email to Patch sent from the nation's capital. "It was just so moving." Manchester's group made certain to ride past the etching on the memorial honoring Robert Tobias, a township patrolman who was killed while conducting a Route 70 traffic stop on May 17, 1975. Tobias was struck by a driver who left the …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Roughly 250 officers pedaled into Ocean Gate to pay tribute to Patrolman Jason Marles
Sleep doesn't come easy for Patricia Engrassia. It hasn't since 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving 2010, when she got the call that her much-loved son, Ocean Gate Patrolman Jason Marles had been killed by a drunken driver on the Garden State Parkway. Engrassia sat in her Ford SUV in front of the Ocean Gate police headquarters this morning trying to hold back tears and not succeeding. "I don't know if I can go in there," she said. She watched the heavy rain stream down her windshield. She waited for the Police Unity Tour to arrive in this tiny town on the Toms River to honor her son. "He could disarm you with a smile," Engrassia said. "He was just a wonderful, caring guy. A wonderful father. He was my buddy. Everyone says keep your faith. How do you …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Bicycle tour will honor the memory of fallen officers
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Editor's note: The Police Unity Tour — an annual bicycle ride honoring fallen law enforcement officers — will be held in May. Coverage of last year's tour, including the stop at Manchester's police department headquarters, can be found here. Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski wrote the following letter asking the community to support this year's ride. Dear Friend, On May 9, myself and four other members of the Manchester Township Police Department will join hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the country who will bicycle along varying routes, each over 300 miles to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (NLEOM) in Washington, D.C. This year, the Police Unity Tour Inc., Chapter II, will have 200 police officers …
Monday, May 9, 2011
About 150 riders will make the ceremonial journey to Washington, D.C.
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 …
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday event will honor Lakewood officer Christopher Matlosz; Monday ceremony will honor Manchester officer Robert Tobias
Families and the public will have the opportunity to honor local officers killed in the line of duty during two ceremonies beginning on Friday and continuing next week. On Friday, the names of two officers will be added to the police memorial monument at the Ocean County Police Academy in Lakewood; on Monday, May 9, bicyclists will ride in honor of a fallen Manchester officer. Lakewood officer and Manchester resident Christopher Matlosz, who was allegedly killed by Jahmell Crockam on Jan. 14, and Ocean Gate officer Jason Marles, who died following a crash on the Garden State Parkway on Nov. 25, will be added to the monument. "These two young men made the ultimate sacrifice as they protected their communities," Freeholder John P. Kelly, who…
