Posted: Mar 31, 2014

Seahawks join Middletown PD in Police Unity Tour

The Seahawks will help raise funds this week and during their game on Saturday for the Police Unity Tour in support of Officers Chad Souza and Jean Young of the Middletown Police Department.

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina women's lacrosse team is teaming up with the Middletown Police Department and will be raising funds for the Police Unity Tour throughout this week and during the Seahawks Commonwealth Coast Conference game against Western New England on Saturday at 12 p.m.

The Seahawks have partnered with officers Chad Souza and Jean Young to raise money for the Police Unity Tour. Officer Patrick P. Montuore started the tour in 1997 with the hope of bringing public awareness of police officers who have died in the line of duty and honor their sacrifices. Since its beginning, the tour has raised nearly 14 million dollars which has been donated to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Senior goalie and administration of justice major Josephine O'Reilly (Middletown, R.I.) interned with the Middletown Police Department this past summer and brought the cause to the attention of head coach Jennifer Foster and her team. "After interning with the police department over the summer, I learned of the two officers who were raising money for the Police Unity Tour. Since Officers Souza and Young were riding in it this year, I thought it would a great cause for our lacrosse team to help with to give back to the community this season," remarked O'Reilly. Following graduation, O'Reilly hopes to go into law enforcement.

Police officers ride their bikes the 300 miles beginning in Florham Park, N.J. and ending at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. When it began in 1997, 18 officers made the ride and last year nearly 1,700 members nationwide made the trip, raising 1.72 million dollars.

The Seahawks have teamed up with Officers Souza and Young in their goal of raising $4,500 in order to participate in the event this year taking place in May.

If you would like to help support the Seahawks and Middletown Police Department and can't make it to the game on Saturday, click here to donate on line. Salve Regina will be collecting donations as well as the Seahawks take on Western New England on Saturday.

Click here for more information on the Police Unity Tour.