Blue Knights European Conference
Officer Down Memorial Ride
A joint memorial ride for police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Blue Knights European Conference
A joint memorial ride for police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Foreword
It brings together police officers from many countries across Europe in shared remembrance, mutual respect, and genuine camaraderie.
Through its scale and public visibility, the Ride Out is meant to send a dignified message: that behind every uniform stands a human being — someone with family, friends, and a life beyond their duty. At the same time, we stand together to send a clear signal against violence toward police and emergency personnel.
What unites us is more than motorcycling. We are united by responsibility, a sense of duty, and the will to stand up for one another, especially in difficult times.
This memorial ride is dedicated to those who did not survive their service — comrades who lost their lives in the line of duty and were denied so much that life still had to offer. Their names and stories remain part of our shared memory.
Their sacrifice obliges us not to look away, to leave no room for indifference, and never to forget that there is a human being behind every uniform.
That is why we also appeal to the judiciary and to society to send a clear message that violence against police and emergency services must never be treated as a minor offense. Many emergency personnel increasingly experience a decline in respect and support for their daily work. It is therefore all the more important that consistent investigations and, above all, comprehensible verdicts strengthen trust in the rule of law and in the protection of those who take on responsibility for others every day.
May these days be shaped by encounters, friendly exchange, and the shared understanding that remembrance only stays alive when we carry it together. In honor of our fallen comrades, in honor of our community, and as a visible sign to the public.
How it all began
January 31, 2022 marks the occasion for the European Officer Down Memorial Ride. In the early morning hours, at 4:22 AM, two young police officers from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in southwestern Germany were shot and killed by a poacher during a traffic stop.
The presidents of Blue Knights Germany XLII, Corinna Deibrich, and Germany XLIII, Nicole Schröder-Urschel, decided to send a visible signal to the public. Their intention was to raise awareness among citizens of the growing violence against police, fire services, and emergency responders.
With the support of the European Conference, they organized the first Officer Down Memorial Ride in Europe. It took place in Karlsruhe under the patronage of Karlsruhe's chief of police, Caren Denner. Almost 200 bikers from all over Germany, including Red Knights, took part in the procession from Karlsruhe to Bruchsal.
The second ride was organized and hosted by BK Germany XLIII in Trier, the third by Belgium VI in Ghent, and the fourth by France VI in Tulle. A relay baton — familiar from athletics — was created, which is passed on each year to the next hosting chapter.
Why this number
On the night of January 31, 2022, two police officers were shot from ambush near Kusel during a traffic stop. The time of the crime, 4:22 AM, has since become deeply etched in the memory of many emergency responders.
The Officer Down Memorial Ride deliberately commemorates this moment without placing the crime itself in the foreground. The time 4:22 AM stands as a symbol for all situations in which members of the police, fire services, emergency medical services, and other response units are injured or killed in the line of duty.
By incorporating the time 4:22 AM into the event, it is meant not only to recall a specific incident, but also to stand for awareness, respect, and solidarity with everyone who has been harmed while on duty.
About us
The Officer Down Memorial Ride is a joint initiative of the Blue Knights® European Conference and participating Blue Knights chapters, together with other motorcycle clubs and many individual riders.
The Blue Knights® International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club is a non-profit, fraternal association of active and former members of police and other law enforcement agencies who combine their love of motorcycling with the values of camaraderie, willingness to help, and commitment.
Within Europe, the European Conference is one of several worldwide conferences of the club and connects the European chapters with one another. It supports the organization of meetings, memorial rides, and charity events centered on encounter, exchange, and mutual support.
The Officer Down Memorial Ride takes up this idea and places it in the context of remembrance: Blue Knights and fellow riders come together every year for a joint ride and a silent procession to remember colleagues from police, fire services, emergency medical services, and other response fields who were injured or killed in the line of duty.
A respectful, open setting is important to us: the ride is not a closed event for club members only, but explicitly invites other motorized emergency personnel and supporters to send a visible sign of solidarity. Families and friends are equally welcome — in keeping with the Blue Knights tradition of understanding encounters as a shared experience.
The Officer Down Memorial Ride is prepared and carried out by a small team of members from the Blue Knights® European Conference and participating chapters. The original idea goes back to the presidents of Blue Knights Germany XLII, Corinna Deibrich, and Germany XLIII, Nicole Schröder-Urschel, in whose region the Kusel incident took place.
Today, coordination lies with the Board of the Blue Knights® European Conference, which handles the planning together with a local organizing team at each event location. This includes, among other things, coordination with local authorities, designing the route and supporting program, and liaising with participating clubs and supporters.
On site, the ride is supported by volunteer helpers who take care of briefings, logistics, safety, and looking after participants. Without this commitment, an event like the Officer Down Memorial Ride would not be possible.
Contact
For questions about the event, its purpose, or this website, the organizing team is available. Inquiries are forwarded to the relevant contacts within the European Conference and the participating chapters.