University Police Represented in 2017 Tour de Force

Sixteen years ago, people watched in horror and grief as the Twin Towers fell to the ground. While thousands fled the scene, thousands of first responders ran toward it, rescuing victims, establishing triage centers, and searching the smoky, ash-filled rubble looking for survivors.

In their honor, two members of the Buffalo State University Police Department, Amy Pedlow, assistant chief of police, and Rick Myers, lieutenant, are taking part in this year’s annual Tour de Force. In 2002, nine bicyclists rode from Washington, D.C. to New York City; in 2016, 236 riders, with 42 support team members, took part. This year, participants—most of whom are first responders—will ride from Boston to New York City. They hope to further the Tour de Force’s dual mission: to keep the memory of the victims of 9/11 alive and to raise funds to benefit the families of police officers who were killed in the line of duty during the year.

Myers is a first-time participant in the Tour de Force; Pedlow is a ride veteran who got involved when she recognized that people’s memories of 9/11 were starting to fade. “I didn’t want the memories of these officers and their sacrifices to be forgotten,” she said. “That’s why I got involved.” Pedlow and Myers will update UPD’s Facebook page throughout the ride.