Ride Honoring Fallen Officers Is Complete, Vigil Ahead

Sgt. Vickie Warehime and about 1600 other cyclists from throughout the country headed out Saturday morning on the final leg of their nearly 300-mile journey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

"Final day! DC here we come," Warehime, of the Baltimore County Police Department's , texted to Pikesville Patch Saturday morning from Columbia, MD.

On Wednesday, she and her group . But other cyclists began at other points, also at about 300 miles from Washington, D.C.

At about 2:44 p.m., Warehime and her group made it into the memorial area.

"Made it safe," she said this afternoon. "We cheer the arrival of every (other) rider. ... What a great feeling. We ride for those who died."

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Later, Warehime photographed the name of Lt. Michael Howe, a Baltimore County police officer who died as a result of a massive stroke.

His name is among that are engraved on the memorial.

According to a news release from Baltimore County police, on August 10, 2008, Howe was with his unit at the scene of a murder-suicide the Pikesville precinct.

"When he returned home after that incident, he collapsed. He was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he died the next afternoon," it states. He died of a massive stroke.

Warehime, who has cycled in the Police Unity Tour for several years, and who is active in the Pikesville Police & Community Relations Council, rode this week in memory of Howe.

To participate in the ride, each cyclist had to raise $1,800. The PCRC helped Warehime by donating $100 earlier this year.

Saturday morning as cyclists begain their ride, they had a police motor escort.

"An awesome sight," Warehime texted at 8:30 a.m.

Throughout the day, she took photos and sent them in to Pikesville Patch. They are attached to this article.

There's a candlelight vigil Sunday night at the national memorial.

Warehime and other police cyclists will escort family and friends of the fallen officers, and participate in the vigil with them.

Stay with Patch for updates from Sgt. Vickie Warehime, who will be texting and sending in photographs from the vigil.

Follow Warehime as she reports along the tour and at the candlelight vigil:

And here are links to Warehime's reports from last year's Police Unity Tour.

Editor's Note: The original version of this story said there were about 1400 riders this year. However, the count is now about 1600, according to an update from Warehime. The candlelight vigil is Sunday evening.