Pictured at the End of Watch 2019 Ride to Remember mobile memorial is Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell (left) and Stone County Sheriff Lance Bonds. The memorial visited Stone County on June 21.

E.O.W. Ride honors fallen officers

  E.O.W. Ride to Remember is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness to the law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty last year. The money raised goes towards supporting families of fallen law enforcement officers. Last year in the US 146 police officers lost their lives in the line of duty.

  The first End of Watch (E.O.W.) Ride to Remember will be held in June and July of this year. The ride began on June 1, 2020 in Washington and conclude on August 5 in Montana. The primary purpose of the E.O.W. Ride to Remember is to raise awareness of the law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty last year. Each year this event will honor fallen officers and give their friends, family, and co-workers a chance to remember them by riding and joining in their names.

  On Sunday, June 21, the mobile memorial was in Stone County to honor fallen Stone County Deputy Sgt. Michael David Stephen, Sr., who was shot and killed on July 18, 2019 while responding to a domestic incident at a home in Stone County. Sgt. Stephen was speaking to a woman in the front yard when another subject opened fire, striking Sgt. Stephen and the woman. The subject who shot Stephen was found dead by responding deputies.

  Sgt. Stephen was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Stone County Sheriff's Office for 20 years. He also served as chief of the Pineville Fire Department and had previously served with the Arkansas Department of Correction.

  Sponsorships and donations will go to help fund many aspects of this year's E.O.W. Ride to Remember. Some of the wonderful things E.O.W. will be doing during their visit to each department are: having a celebration of life event at each location; providing each agency with safety equipment and/or a check for their department in remembrance of their fallen officer; each agency and family will be given a plaque to commemorate the officers sacrifice; provide families with financial support if needed and/or the opportunity to a fully funded vacation or education scholarships.

  Sponsors and donors are recognized on the "Ride to Remember" event website, transport truck and trailer, all outgoing event communications, and are also featured in the social media sites. Riders will be followed by a customized dually truck towing a 28-foot trailer with graphics depicting the fallen officers, their agency, and the sponsors who are helping support them in this event.

  Current sponsors include Lone Wolf Harley Davidson, Cornelia Marie, Yoke's Fresh Market, Advanced Digital Imaging, The Officer Down Memorial Page and Combat First Aid.