Seahawks teaming up with Middletown police for unity tour

The women’s lacrosse team is teaming up with the Middletown Police Department to raise funds for the Police Unity Tour throughout this week and during their game against Nichols College, which will be played at noon Saturday, March 28 at Gaudet Field.

The Police Unity Tour brings public awareness to police officers who have died in the line of duty and honors their sacrifices. Since its founding in 1997, the tour has raised nearly $16 million for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

During the tour, police officers ride bicycles 300 miles from Florham Park, N.J. to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Participation has grown from 18 officers the first year to more than 1,800 last year.

Goaltender Josephine O’Reilly ’14 interned with the Middletown Police Department two summers ago and brought the cause to the attention of her team. “After interning with the police department over the summer, I learned of the two officers (Chad Souza and Jean Young) who were raising money for the Police Unity Tour,” she said. “I thought it would a great cause for our lacrosse team to help with this season.”

Officers Souza and Young hope to raise $4,500 to participate in the May event. The Seahawks will be collecting donations online and during their game on Saturday.