2011 Wall to Wall Ride
More than 1,000 police officers from around Australia honoured their fallen colleagues in the second annual 'Wall to Wall' motorcycle ride today.
NSW Police officers gathered at the Police Wall of Remembrance in The Domain for a memorial service this morning, including NSW Police Force Commissioner, Andrew Scipione APM who was also joined by Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Tony Negus APM; Tasmania Police Commissioner, Darren Hine; Northern Territory Police Commissioner, John McRoberts; and former NSW Police Force Commissioner, Tony Lauer APM.
The NSW contingent was also joined at the service by more than 50 Queensland Police officers, led by Assistant Commissioner Paul Doyle APM.
The Queensland officers rode in honour of their fallen colleagues, Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding and Sergeant Dan Stiller.
NSW Police Force Chaplain, Father Paul O'Donoghue blessed the riders before they departed under the escort of highway patrol car 'Botany Bay 211' -- dedicated to the memory of the late Senior Constable Glenn McEnallay.
The procession travelled along the Eastern Distributor, Southern Cross Drive, the M5 and Hume Highway -- slowing as it passed over the bridge named in honour of the late Senior Constable Jim Affleck, near Campbelltown.
A dozen Northern Territory Police officers, who travelled across the outback in recent days, linked up with the convoy at the Jim Affleck Bridge.
After a seven-day pilgrimage from Perth, more than 50 Western Australia Police officers -- including Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan -- met the group at the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn.
And more than 230 Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, South Australia Police and Tasmania Police officers gathered on the outskirts of Canberra before joining the final stages of the ride to the National Police Memorial, where a commemorative service was held this afternoon.
Participants in this year's Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance again raised much-needed funds for Police Legacy, which provides emotional and financial support to the partners and children of deceased police officers.
Constable Nathan Kohutek from Green Valley Local Area Command, who lost his police officer father 29 years ago, participated in the ride for the first time, honouring his late father.
Nathan is a Police Legatee who was just four years old when his father, the late Constable First Class Mark Kohutek, was killed in a motorcycle crash on the Pacific Highway in March 1982.
NSW Police Force Commissioner, Andrew Scipione APM, met with Constable Nathan Kohutek and his family at The Domain prior to the ride, and this afternoon nominated Constable Kohotek to present the NSW Police baton at the Wall of Remembrance in Canberra.
The Kohutek family story encapsulates everything that this wonderful event is about, Commissioner Scipione said. It's about honouring and remembering police officers killed on duty, supporting the loved ones left behind through our Legacy organisations, and the ongoing enjoyment of motorcycling.
This is only the second time the Wall to Wall Ride has been held but it has received overwhelming support from serving police across Australia who wanted to come together and remember their fallen colleagues.
It has also been a great opportunity to renew friendships and the social fraternity of policing, sometimes forgotten, sometimes lamented. But when we do come together, we absolutely remind ourselves that the strength and friendship of our common bonds and purpose still exist and are strong and lasting, Mr Scipione said.