Fraternal Order of Police

Akron Lodge #7

BIKERS HONOR POLICE

Riders raise money for scholarships, memorial to officers who died on duty

By Jim Mackinnon

Beacon Journal business writer

Ed Budanauro had been a Northeast Ohio resident for less than a week when he decided to spend a hot Sunday afternoon helping honor the region's police officers killed in the line of duty.

Budanauro, who moved to Avon Lake from Texas, was among about 800 motorcyclists who rumbled into Akron to take part in the eighth annual Police Memorial Motorcycle Rally. Budanauro didn't waste time finding other bikers in the region and asking about worthy group rides.

``All of the bikers I ran into said the best ride was the one for fallen officers,'' he said as he waited for the Akron ceremony to take place in front of the Stubbs Justice Center downtown, site of Akron's fallen police memorial. He is a senior consultant with specialized financial firm MarshBerry and an avid motorcyclist who rides a Harley-Davidson Road King Classic.

``If I'm going to spend money, then this was the one,'' Budanauro said. ``This was the best cause.''

The event -- riders each paid $30 to participate plus $15 apiece for passengers -- helped raise enough money for two $10,000 college scholarships, and $2,500 to pay the annual gas bill for the flame that lights the Akron police memorial. Additional money is raised through sponsorships and the annual late-winter black-tie Salute to Our Heroes benefit auction in Cleveland.

Rally-goers coped with the 90-degree heat by drinking free bottled water from strategically placed ice buckets or seeking whatever shade was available. About an hour after the rally started, the group -- most of whom were civilians, not police officers -- rode off en-masse. The riders continued to other stops and a ``drive by'' in Parma and Cleveland, before ending up where they originally gathered in the morning, Southeast Harley-Davidson in Cleveland.

``It's just overwhelming the people that come out and show their support to the police,'' said Andy Ezzo, the Cleveland police detective who organized the rally and is president of the Greater Cleveland Police Scholarship Fund. ``We have close to 800 bikes here today.''

Add in the number of passengers and the participants grew to an estimated 1,500.

This year's rally in particular honored Cleveland Heights police investigator Jason West, 31, who was shot to death May 25 as he stepped out of his police car while responding to a call. West's personal motorcycle and the motorcycle he rode as an officer were parked in front of the Stubbs Center.

Ezzo was emotional as he addressed the crowd.

``There's no glory in it. You'll never be a millionaire,'' he said. ``Most of us become police officers because we love it.''

Speakers noted that on average, a police officer was killed every 53 hours in the nation last year.

Akron Police Chief Michael Matulavich thanked the crowd for coming out. He read a short poem about a fallen police officer that ended with the hope the dead officer's name would be the last one ever put on a memorial.

``That's all that we can hope for, that no more names be added to our memorials,'' he said.

The event closed with the Cleveland Police Pipes and Drum Corps performing Amazing Grace.

Ron Deskins, a retired police officer and security guard, said he's been to funerals of police officers killed in the line of duty. The motorcycle rally and fundraiser is a good cause, the Mentor-on-the-Lake resident said.

Linda Post of Parma learned of the annual rally a year ago from a friend and said she plans to keep attending. She was one of a small number of female motorcyclists taking part in the rally.

The event is a good way to show support for the police, Post said. ``It was very moving.''