SOUTHBURY — Southbury residents John and Emily Gray will join over 1,000 cyclists from across the country in the Police Unity Tour, a four-day, 300-mile journey from northern New Jersey to Washington, D.C. The ride begins this month and concludes during National Police Week, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, where participants honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
Founded in 1997, the Police Unity Tour has grown into a nationwide movement dedicated to ensuring that the sacrifice of fallen law enforcement officers is never forgotten, while raising millions of dollars for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
For both John and Emily, the ride carries deep personal meaning, as each will honor specific fallen officers whose stories have left a lasting impact on their lives.
“I am riding in memory of my friend and colleague, DEA Special Agent James ‘Terry’ Watson, who was stabbed to death in the line of duty in Bogota, Colombia,” said John Gray.
“He lived a life of service, and in the end, he fought for his life with incredible courage, so much so that his attackers later admitted they had to escalate the violence because he was winning even though Terry was unarmed and outnumbered,” he said. “That truth says everything about who he was. When we lost him in 2013, it wasn’t just the loss of a friend, it was the loss of a man who gave everything he had, right to the very end.”
Emily Gray is riding in memory of Officer Nancy Ellen Nichols of the Naugatuck Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty in 1991 at 33 years old.
“Nancy’s story has always meant something deeply personal to my family, but what stays with me most is who she was,” said Emily Gray.
“She was known for her kindness, her compassion, and the way she cared for people in her community,” she said. “She wasn’t in a dramatic moment—she was simply helping another officer on a traffic stop, doing her job, when her life was taken. My father joined the Naugatuck Police Department shortly after her death, and although our family never knew her personally, her presence was always felt through the department and the people who spoke of her. Over time, that quiet connection became something lasting and meaningful for us. That is what makes honoring her so important to me. She represents the kind of everyday courage that is often unseen, but never forgotten.”
With deep ties to the law enforcement community, through her father’s service, her husband’s career, and her role as Chief Development Officer of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Emily views the ride as both a personal and professional commitment.
“This ride is more than just miles on a bike; it is a promise,” she said. “A promise to honor Nancy and every fallen officer whose name is engraved on the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.”
The Grays will ride alongside fellow participants through multiple states, greeted by communities who gather to show their support. The journey culminates in Washington, D.C., where riders take part in National Police Week events honoring the nation’s fallen law enforcement officers.
In addition to raising awareness, the couple is fundraising in support of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which preserves the stories of fallen officers and educates the public about their service and sacrifice.
“Every mile we ride and every dollar raised is about remembrance,” said Emily Gray. “It’s about ensuring that the men and women who gave their lives in the line of duty are honored, not just during Police Week, but always.”
The Southbury Record 