MOTORCYCLES, MEMORIES RIDERS HELP OFFICERS' SURVIVORS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

VALENCIA - It was a day to roll and remember as hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts traveled through the Santa Clarita Valley as part of the seventh annual Downed Officers Support Ride.

The event on Sunday began at the Valencia Town Center and included a stop in Stevenson Ranch at the Jake Monument, a memorial for slain Santa Clarita Valley Deputy Jake Kuredjian, who was killed five days after last year's ride.

``I started this several years ago as a way to remember and help the families,'' said Sgt. Bob Norlemann of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who organized the event. ``Jake was a personal friend of mine. It doesn't get any more personal then this.''

At the start of the ride, participants took part in a brief memorial service that included remarks from Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, chiefs from Los Angeles and San Fernando police departments and leaders of the California Highway Patrol.

The ceremony ended with a roll call in which Norlemann read the names of eight officers who lost their lives in the line of duty so far this year.

``Never did I dream I would have to read my friend's final roll call,'' Norlemann said. ``It's very difficult.''

Two years after Norlemann started the Downed Officers Support Ride, he and Kuredjian organized the Iron Warriors, a law-enforcement motorcycle riding club.

Kuredjian was a motor officer for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley station when he was gunned down by a suspect wanted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for weapons violations and impersonation of a federal marshal.

This year's event attracted more than 1,400 riders from as far away as Tucson, Ariz., Las Vegas and San Luis Obispo. Their goal was to raise $50,000 for families of police officers and firefighters killed on duty or while in active service of their communities, Norlemann said.

Since its inception, the Downed Officers Support Ride Foundation has raised more than $140,000, including $110,000 already distributed to families of officers in California, Arizona and Nevada.

Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy John Stites, assigned to El Monte court, attended the event with about 60 members of the Choir Boys, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle riding club for law-enforcement officers.

``We're here to show our brotherhood,'' said Stites. ``Any loss is a loss that we all feel.''

Stites attributed the large turnout this year - about twice the usual number - partly to feelings aroused by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Los Angeles County Deputy Tom Gealta, 38, from the San Dimas station said this was the first time he came out to the event, whose memorialized honorees included Deputy Dave March, a Saugus resident killed in April during a routine traffic stop in broad daylight. Gealta had worked with March at the Temple station.

Stanislaus County Deputy Bill Allen, 54, said the event raises awareness of the real dangers of law enforcement.

``I think it brings to the forefront what we do and the price we ultimately have to pay,'' Allen said.

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4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 3 -- color) Motorcyclists line up in Valencia on Sunday for a seventh annual memorial ride for fallen law-enforcement officers. Below, Los Angeles police, sheriff's and state Highway Patrol cycle officers escort memorial riders. Bottom, riders cross the McBean overpass.

(4) Backward boots on a riderless horse Sunday continue an ancient tradition honoring warriors killed in the line of duty.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News