The Central California C.O.P.S. 7th Annual Memorial Motorcycle Run roared to life Saturday morning, March 27th, in the Visalia Harley-Davidson parking lot to aid the families of law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate heroic sacrifice. The event is the main fundraiser for the Central California C.O.P.S. (Concerns Of Police Survivors) chapter. Officers representing law enforcement agencies throughout California were present. Also on hand to greet the hundreds of motorcyclists from all over the state were Leon Isaac, president of the central California chapter, and his wife, Carol, who is the chapter's treasurer. Leon and Carol became involved with the C.O.P.S. organization shortly after the sudden and tragic loss of their son, Fresno County Sheriff's Department Deputy Jeff Isaac, in September of 1997.
On September 8th, 1997, at 1am, a knock came upon the Isaac's front door. An officer with the Reedley Police Department and Fresno County Sheriff's Deputy informed Leon and Carol that their son Jeff had been involved in auto accident and had been air-lifted to University Medical Center. Despite the best efforts by emergency personnel and doctors, Jeff Isaac died a few hours later. "After that, everything was in a fog," recalls Leon. But he explains they still had to move quickly. "Jeff died on Monday, and we had to bury him on Thursday. After that, we were left on our own with our grief."
Having no local support structures in place, the Isaac family attended memorial services in Sacramento, but had no idea of the National Police Memorial held in Washington D.C. each May during National Police Week. Being a family with a deep tradition in law enforcement, they were heart-sickened to learn that the following year, their son's name was read at the national event without family members to be there to speak in memory of their missed loved one. But, instead of succumbing to the tribulation of the event, Leon and Carol decided to try and turn it into a positive. That's when they became involved with the C.O.P.S. organization, to honor their son and "to help other survivors during their time of agony and stress. Obviously, there's no way anyone can realize what these families go through, says the retired parole agent.
The Central California C.O.P.S. Chapter was established in 1999 under the direction of the non-profit National C.O.P.S. Organization. The chapter encompasses a large portion of central California including Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties. The national organization, which began in 1984 with 110 members, now has over 15,000 members across the country.
Members include spouses, children, parents, in-laws, siblings, significant others, and affected co-workers of the fallen officers. Each year, between 140 and 160 officers are killed while serving in the line of duty, leaving their families and co-workers to cope with the throes of traumatic grief that has been abruptly thrust upon them and then to begin rebuilding their shattered lives. Leon knows how devastating it is for survivors who have to deal with the loss of a loved one killed in the line of duty, "That why we're here for them...for the long haul," he says.
The Central California C.O.P.S. Memorial Run began, when returning from Inyo County after attending funeral services for fallen C.H.P. Officer Paul Pino, Leon stopped to meet with survivors from Bakersfield. At the meeting was Jason Lancaster, brother of Fresno County Sheriff's Deputy Josh Lancaster, who died in May of 2003. Jason mentioned some of his fondest memories were of riding motorcycles with Josh, and that he would like to start a memorial bike run in honor of fallen officers. Leon picked up the idea and ran with it. Less than four months later, the inaugural ride was under way, and has steadily grown ever since.
This year's event was particularly memorable for Leon. While preparing for the event in Kingsburg one evening, Chief Tom Klose of the Sanger Police Department approached Leon. "There's someone I want you to meet," Tom told him. Tom then introduced Leon to Kim Pennington, former Battalion Chief of CDF - Fresno County, who 12-1/2 years earlier had removed Jeff Isaac from his mangled cruiser that dreadful night. Leon said they spoke for some time, settling several lingering questions that he has had since his son's accident. Chief Pennington then volunteered to arrange and coordinate the fire truck ladders hoisting the giant American flags at the start of the run in Goshen and at the final destination at Millerton Lake.
Prior to the start of the run, a memorial was held for California police officers who died in the line of duty since January 1st, 2009. With American and California flags waving, Honor Guard were in formation as a lone bagpiper performed "Amazing Grace" during the solemn moment. As a bugler sounded taps, a list of the fallen officers were called, including central valley officers Sgt. Steven May of the Modesto Police Department; Sgt. Greg Hernandez of the Tulare County Sheriff's Department; Deputy Joel Wahlenmaier of the Fresno County Sheriff's Department; and Officer Javier Bejar of the Reedley Police Department. In a moving display of unending friendship and camaraderie, an off-duty Reedley police officer was present to honor his fallen partner by riding Officer Bejar's own bright yellow Honda CBR 929 RR on the run.
The massive entourage began filing out of the parking lot, taking almost fifteen minutes before the last of the riders were underway. Proceeding northbound on Highway 99, the group rumbled through Kingsburg, stopping at the downtown Memorial Park for the first poker stop, before heading towards Reedley. Just before crossing the Kings River, the large group rolled past a roadside memorial erected for Jeff Isaac. After making their second stop at Reedley College, the run continued north on Reed Avenue, taking a somber tone as it passed through Minkler, scene of the recent shootout that claimed the lives of Fresno County Sheriff's Deputy Joel Wahlenmaier and Reedley Police Officer Javier Bejar.
With the Kings River to their shoulder, the riders rounded westward on Kings Canyon Road, before turning north and making their way through rural Fresno County. As the group angled onto Watts Valley Road, the valley floor gave way to smooth rolling hills along the meandering highway. The run then climbed Tollhouse Road, making the third poker stop at Lodge Road. Then, after passing through Prather, they began their descent to the final destination. A tremendous view of Table Mountain was revealed on one turn as the group made their way down Auberry Road before turning towards Millerton Lake. A spacious vista of the lake reflecting the clear blue sky greeted the riders as they arrived. The crowd was then served a traditional barbeque lunch while enjoying the live country music of Randy Deaver and the Crossfire Band. The participants then viewed attractions including fire trucks hoisting a giant American flag; the Fresno County Sheriff's Eagle One helicopter performing demonstrations; and a Black Hawk helicopter from the Fresno-based Army Reserves unit.
A symbolic punctuation was added to the event as it was coming to it's conclusion. As members of the group began straggling back to their homes, a lone sheriff's cruiser with lights flashing bid farewell to the riders as they headed through the small town of Friant, on the recently renamed Fresno County Sheriff's Deputy Josh Lancaster Memorial Highway.
NOTE: Information sources for this article include The Central California C.O.P.S. Chapter and Valley Response Magazine. For more information, go to www.centralcalcops.com
