17th annual motorcycle ride honors 4 fallen heroes including recent fallen Officer Phil Wagner

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - 400 motorcycles were registered to ride in the COPS ride on Sunday.

Hundreds of people lined up next to the bikes outside of the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial at West 3rd Street and Lakeside Avenue to take part.

Mike Bartholdi told 19 News he’s riding with a purpose.

“It’s important to come out here and show support they have our backs we have theirs,” said Bartholdi.

The organization C.O.P.S. stands for concerns of police survivors. They are using the money raised to help the families that have been left behind.

A mission the president of the cops ride, John Kikol, says they’ve been practicing for years.

The people riding Sunday hope that everyone who sees them through the streets of Northeast Ohio think of the families that have lost so much.

This year’s ride was to honor 4 law enforcement officers in Ohio that died in the line of duty this year.

3 of which were from our area.

Officer Ritter, Officer Derbin, and Officer Wagner.

Their names will be placed on the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial. Sadly, there are more than 190 names already etched into the stone.