16-year-old Cycles Across California to Raise Awareness for Fallen Officers

Source: City of Santa Barbara, Police Department

Travis Risley, 16 of Napa, CA, is spending his summer cycling the length of the state to raise money for the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation, which supports the families of fallen officers. The teenager’s father, Dan Risley, has worked for Napa Police Department for more than 25 years.

On Wednesday, July 19 at 7 A.M. Travis and his support crew will leave Orcutt, CA and ride south about 70 miles through the Central Coast towards the City of Santa Barbara.  When he arrives in the late afternoon, he will be provided an escort to the Santa Barbara Police Department.  He’ll spend the night in Santa Barbara with the support of the Santa Barbara Police Officers Association.

Santa Barbara Police Chief Lori Luhnow, also an avid cyclist, said “This young man represents the sons and daughters of our own police family that each of us strives to go home to at the end of each shift.”

“The Santa Barbara Police Department is glad to support him on this leg of his journey” Luhnow continued.

The ride began on July 7th at the Oregon/California border on Highway 101 and will end on July 24th at the Mexican border on Virginia Avenue in San Ysidro.

The last Santa Barbara Police Officer to make the ultimate sacrifice was Detective Thomas Guerry on January 13th, 1970.  He was shot and killed in the line of duty apprehending a robbery suspect.  In May, the Central Coast celebrated the 48th Annual H. Thomas Guerry Awards which bestows the most prestigious law enforcement honor in the Tri-Counties to sworn and civilians deserving of special recognition for Valor and Superior Performance.

Support crew contact information: thecaliforniaride@gmail.com

Travis has a Facebook page:  A Ride to Support Fallen Officers

All money he raises goes to the California Peace Officer Memorial Foundation. www.camemorial.org