About Us
The Blue Knights COPSRUN was founded in 1997 It was an idea of Dick DelRossi, a Police Officer in the State Massachusetts and a member of the Blue Knights Chapter MA V. Dick, an Officer Survival Instructor for the State and having attended a number of funerals of Officers killed in the line of duty, realized that no matter how much training was provided, Officers were still going to get killed in the line of duty. One thing he noticed that was the same at every funeral he attended, was that the ones left behind, the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands, children, co-workers, family and friends would all need support.
In 1996 while attending the Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C. at the National Police Memorial during Law Week, he had a moment to speak to a young wife who had lost her husband in the line of duty. She stated "That The Hardest Thing was Standing There All Alone." (Even though there were thousands of people there at the time). Dick returned home that year with that image in his mind and realized the 90% of the time in Washington, D.C. during Law Week is spent honoring the Officers that were killed. What about the ones left behind and needing support? Dick decided to spend some time taking classes offered by the Concerns Of Police Survivors (COPS). An organization made up of family members and co-workers who lost someone in the line of duty. "WE cannot do anymore for the Officers who have passed, but we can make sure that their families and co-workers are never forgotten." This is when the idea for the Blue Knights COPSRUN came about. A motorcycle ride to Washington, D.C. during Police Memorial Week to bring awareness and support to the survivors.
The Blue Knights COPSRUN motto is "THEY WILL NEVER STAND ALONE". This is to always remind us of that young wife standing at the memorial feeling all alone. As long as the Blue Knights COPSRUN exists, no survivors will ever stand alone again.
In 1997 the first year of the Blue Knights COPSRUN, Dick was joined by Russ Harper or Blue Knights NY Chapter XVIII and Ted Morris of Blue Knights Chapter MA XVIII. Together the three of them took up a collection and made a donation in the name of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club to the Concerns Of Police Survivors during National Law Week that year. Thus the Blue Knights COPSRUN was formed. In the early years, the group continued to grow and the amount of riders increased fro the northeastern area of the country. A few years later, Patrick Griffin of Blue Knights Chapter MA IX joined the Blue Knights COPSRUN staff as a Road Captain. Not long after that Jim Rose of Blue Knights Chapter OH V and Jim Hurley of Blue Knights Chapter TX I coordinated rides from the western and middle parts of the country and joined the staff.
Over the past ten years the Blue Knights COPSRUN has continued to grow in size. We have the full support of the Blue Knights International Motorcycle Club and have signed an agreement with the Concerns Of Police Survivors to act as an agent for their cause and fall under their 501-C-3 status as a Not-For-Profit Organization. We have a new Board of Directors and are always looking for other Blue Knights members to come on board as area coordinators for your area. The Blue Knights COPSRUN is not just from one area of the country and when we present a donation to the Concerns Of Police Survivors, it comes from ALL of the Blue Knights, not just one chapter or member.
Each year the National Concerns of Police Survivors invites the participants of the Blue Knights COPSRUN to attend their Picnic in the Park at the end of Law Week. This picnic is provided to the surviving family members as a means of winding down after the long week of seminars and memorial services to learn how to cope with the loss of their loved ones. The survivors have come to appreciate the Blue Knights and look forward to our participation and support each year. One of the cherished traditions that have formed over the years is when the Blue Knights gives rides on their motorcycle to the children and family members of fallen Officers. Many bonds and friendships have been formed over the years
One thing that has not changed over the last ten years is that we are still losing Officers killed in the line of duty every year, which means that the number of survivors continues to increase. Please remember our motto "THEY WILL NEVER STAND ALONE" and help us to continue this great tradition by sending in your donations and attending the Blue Knights COPSRUN next year in Washington, D.C. with us. If you come once and meet the Survivors, you will be back every year, trust us.
Please make your donation checks to: "Blue Knights COPSRUN "
Send to: Blue Knights COPSRUN
P.O. Box 732
Otisville, NY 10963