Washington, D.C
National Police Week: Fallen heroes remembered on 250-mile bike trip to D.C.
National Police Week 2025 runs Sunday, May 11, through Saturday, May 17, and officers are already being honored in the Triangle.
Major Brian Harrison with the Raleigh Police Department just embarked on a 250-mile bike trip from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., to pay tribute to one of his peers who died in the line of duty.
Harrison rode in honor of Raleigh Officer Gabriel Torres, who died in the Oct. 13, 2022, mass shooting in east Raleigh’s Hedingham neighborhood.
Torres and dozens of other law enforcement officers will be honored Tuesday in Washington, D.C., at a candlelight vigil, when the Raleigh officer’s name will be read during an honor roll call for heroes. Other North Carolina officers that will be named include William “Alden” Elliot, Thomas M. Weeks, Jr., Samuel “Sam” Poloche and Joshua Eyer, who died in a May 2024 shooting in Charlotte, and Michael Horan, who was shot and killed inside a Food Lion store in Greensboro in December.
Major Michelle Quintero with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, who died in September during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, will also be named in the roll call. A full list of officers whose names will be read can be found online.
Harrison said plenty of memories were made during the long bike ride, which began in Raleigh with a sendoff from Torres’ wife, Jasmin.
“Just to hear her words of what a ride like this means to her,” Harrison said. “There is no doubt this a grueling trip. It’s a ride, though, that is made easier after hearing stories about those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Harrison was also given a chance to meet other family members of fallen officers during his trip.
“As you ride and you talk to survivors, which are family members of those officers, and you hear their stories of the loved ones they lost, it quickly changes meaning and becomes a ride of honor and remembrance,” Harrison said.
In honor of National Police Week, the WRAL tower on Western Boulevard and buildings across the Triangle will be lit up in blue to honor law enforcement officers, including the PNC Tower, Center Plaza, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and Crabtree Valley Mall. Flag banners honoring fallen heroes will be visible along Fayetteville Street, and there will be several events, including on Friday, when Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce will throw out the first pitch at the NC State baseball game.