Roughly 100 riders take part in Lt. Cliff Rouse Memorial Dice Ride

ALBANY — The sixth annual Lt. Cliff Rouse Memorial Dice Ride was held Saturday, and while the weather interfered with some riders coming out, roughly 100 motorcycle riders took part to memorialize a fallen police officer and raise funds for a good cause.

The ride is part memorial and part fundraiser spearheaded by, among others, the family of Lt. Cliff Rouse, a Dougherty County Police Department officer who was gunned down in the line of duty two day before Christmas in 2010. Proceeds will be used to assist the families of other fallen Georgia law enforcement officers through Concerns of Police Survivors, or C.O.P.S.

Don Cheek, retired DCPD chief and chair of the ride, said Saturday the weather might have deterred some riders but that more than $20,000 had been raised before the ride even started.

Participants departed from American Legion Post 30 on Gillionville Road in Albany and made a circuitous, 68-mile route through parts of Baker and Calhoun counties, with some stops along the way in Newton and Leary, before ending back at the starting point.

The riders were sent out in two groups, with a DCPD escort leading the way for the first group when it departed at 10:30 a.m. Lunch was provided when the riders returned.

At the Legion hall, riders were able to take part in refreshments and browse through raffle and auction items. Pictures of Rouse were up, along with listings of law enforcement officers in Georgia lost in the line of duty this year and officers in Albany and Dougherty County who have been lost since 1905. American Legion Riders took part, along with the Blue Knight Riders.

“I think its a great thing, and the Rouse family has been involved. … I made a promise and commitment to the Rouse family that Cliff would not be forgotten,” Cheek said.

The Rouse family’s commitment to the event was demonstrated by their presence Saturday.

“It is unbelievable, overwhelming and so humbling that (the riders) have come out to support, to remember, for the cause,” said Jackie Rouse, the late lieutenant’s mother.

She described her son as someone who was a law enforcement officer “up and down,” who might not want as much attention brought on to him as the annual ride does.

“He would say, ‘Momma, they don’t need to be doing this,’” Jackie Rouse said.

She also spoke of the increasing support for the ride, saying “This year has been unbelievable.”

The first ride was an impromptu event to raise funds for the Rouse family. It has since raised $47,000 over the last three years. This year’s event had 78 sponsors, up from the 45 last year.

“The community support has been tremendous,” Cheek said.

The organizing committee decided to set aside some of the proceeds that will go directly to the families of Georgia law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The remainder goes to C.O.P.S., whose services often include a peer network and counseling.

“C.O.P.S. works with families of fallen officers and the departments as well,” Cheek said.

The “Back the Blue” slogan was seen on the event’s shirts this year, acknowledgement of a campaign to counteract the bad publicity law enforcement has gotten in recent years.

“The vast majority (of officers) are professional and are in this job and do it for the right reasons,” Cheek said.