A few days before Christmas, on December 23, 2010, Don Cheek, who was the Dougherty County, Georgia, Chief of Police, received the call that no chief wants to hear. One of his officers, Lt. Cliff Rouse, had been killed in a shootout, while responding to an armed robbery. “It was one of the worst news of my life,” said Chief Cheek. The following year, a group of supporters for the family initiated the first Lt. Cliff Rouse Memorial Ride in honor of Cliff. Lt. Rouse was known for his willingness to assist others, who numerous times gave his time and occasionally his day off to escort motorcycle events and charity rides. Four to five thousand riders from all over the State and surrounding States came to pay tribute to Cliff and his family. What started as a tribute to a fallen officer has continued and turned into an annual event each year. Initially, it was to raise BTR 8 | BORNTORIDE.COM
money for the Rouse family. Now the ride has extended to raising money for Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), a National organization that responds to the needs of the families of fallen law enforcement officers. “COPS was the first group that responded to give the family both emotional and financial support,” said Don, now retired. Despite unfavorable weather many times, the Rouse Ride donations and auction has grown significantly and raised more money than any other local motorcycle event. In 2015, a new policy was initiated by the Committee members to release some of the money to assist the families of Georgia fallen officers. Money raised in 2015 was presented not only to the COPS foundation but to the families of seven fallen officers killed in the line of duty in Georgia. Members of the Georgia Blue Knights III, American Legion riders from Albany Post 30, and Sylvester Post 335
rode over 1,800 miles from the Albany area to Savannah and Atlanta numerous times to present the families monetary honorarium presentations. The Lt. Cliff Rouse Memorial Ride not only remembers the sacrifice of Cliff and his family, the COPs Foundation, but also the memory of all Georgia officers killed in the line of duty. Paul Murray
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