UB Police Officers Step Up to the Tour de Force Cause for the 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- University at Buffalo Police Officers Lieutenant Amy Pedlow and Assistant Chief Christopher Bartolomei will carry on what is becoming a UB tradition when they ride the four-day, 250-mile Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride to raise money for the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

This year marks the third consecutive year UB officers have represented University Police in the event. Pedlow and Bartolomei will ride from the Pentagon to Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan from Sept. 11-14, the latest route in the annual ride, which is always approximately 250 miles.

UB Police Officer Dale Hohl was a cyclist the first two years the university took part in the fund-raising effort. Hohl said university police have raised nearly $12,000 over the past two years, putting UB among the most successful organizations taking part in the charity event.

"The funds go to families of police officers killed in the line of duty in the past year," says Hohl. "The number of police officers killed increased 43 percent this year. And if that trend continues, we could see the highest total in two decades."

To raise money for the event, they will sell $5 raffle tickets for a 42-inch TV, a 23-inch TV and an iPod Nano. They will sell tickets on Aug. 16 and 23 outside the Tim Horton's shop on the corner of Sweet Home Road and Sheridan Drive in Amherst.

Those interested in supporting the fund-raising effort also can make a donation online at the Tour de Force website at http://www.tourdeforceny.com. Hohl will enter these names in the university's drawing. Or people can email Hohl at dalehohl@buffalo.edu to request raffle tickets.

The drawing for the local prizes will be held Aug. 27 at the annual picnic for new UB students and their families.

The three UB officers involved in this year's bike ride can also be reached through the UB Police Department at (716) 645-2227.