Local Officers Honor Boston Bombing Victim on 9/11 Anniversary

Five local police officers will join hundreds of officers from throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts this Wednesday, the anniversary of 9/11, to pay tribute to a victim of the Boston Marathon bombing. 

Portsmouth Police Officers Lt. Bill Burns, Sgt. AJ Bucci, Sgt. Steve Burns, Officer Pat O'Neill and Middletown Police Lt. Mike Faria will join 250 officers and volunteers as they cycle from Providence to Boston as part of the Tour De Force Charity. 

The Tour De Force Charity raises funds for families of police officers, who have been killed in the line of duty each year.  

"The Tour de Force's dual mission is to honor the victims of 9/11 by keeping their memory alive through cycling events and to raise funds, to benefit the families of police officers, who were killed in the line of duty, each year, nationwide, making the ultimate sacrifice," according to the Tour De Force website. 

The officers from Portsmouth and Middletown will join in the final leg of the Tour De Force, which will travel from the Freedom Tower in NYC to the 9/11 memorial in Boston.  

This leg of the bicycle ride has been dubbed "Sean's ride" in honor of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, who was slain in a gun battle with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects.

These local officers have participated in the Police Unity Tour for many years. 

For more information about the Tour De Force or how you can help, visit the Tour De Force website here.