Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies bike 250 miles for law enforcement support

It was 47 degrees and raining in Chesapeake, Va., when five Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies started their 250-mile journey to D.C. May 10.

But, when Detective Jason Carey started speaking with one of the other 350 bicyclers in the Road to Hope Memorial Bicycle Ride, he remembered why he was doing this.

The woman pedaling at his side said she was riding because her husband had died on duty. 

Team Manatee consisted of five riders — Bradenton residents Carey and Sergeant David Byington and East County residents Lieutenant Andy Ramdath, Deputy Sandy Keller, and Major BJ Dixon — and two support staff, Bradenton residents Deputy Donnie Olmstead and Detective Patty Hetrick. They joined the Law Enforcement United Virginia chapter ride for charity, raising $15,000 through donations from friends and family, a corn hole tournament at Motorworks Brewing Co., and a raffle booth at the Manatee County Fair. The funds went to Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and Officer Down Memorial, two charities which provide monetary support and mental health services for the families left behind when members of law enforcement die on the job. 

The Sheriff’s Office members registered for the ride last July, and trained through May to prepare for the lengthy journey.They even traveled in-state so they could ride on hills, said Major Dixon. 

“It’s always been in the back of my mind that I’ve wanted to participate in something like this,” Dixon said. “What better way to honor our fallen heroes and assist their families?”

The ride was split into three days, beginning in Virginia and ending at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Dixon said he began bicycling more regularly when he began training for the race and has continued riding more frequently now. He and Carey said the group was planning already to return to the race next year, hopefully with a bigger group from the Sheriff’s Office.

“Hearing the stories, it was encouraging,” Carey said. “We plan to do it every year now and grow.”