Want to see Shelton Police Officer Kevin Sherman get his legs waxed?
Donate money to the Police Unity Tour — a 300-mile bike ride that raises money for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Click here to visit Sherman’s online donation page.
In May, Sherman will make the ride in honor of Shelton’s Sgt. Orville Smith, who was killed while directing traffic last year.
Sherman needs to raise $1,750 in order to participate. His goal is $5,000.
That’s a lot of money, especially in this economy, Sherman admitted.
So he’s willing to give a little of himself in order to get pledges from friends, family and the community at large.
“If I raise the $5,000, I will get my legs waxed,” Sherman said, after examining his lower legs in his office Friday afternoon and determining they were appropriately hairy.
He came to the conclusion after joking about the prospect in his office Friday. When his co-workers said it would seriously help him get more donations, Sherman agreed to go through with it.
Sherman said the waxing services will be performed by P.J. & Company Salon on Bridgeport Avenue, which is owned by his friend.
P.J. & Company Salon will also host another event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 5, where Sherman will shampoo hair. All proceeds will go toward his pledges for the Police Unity Tour.
Smitty
It’s a wacky ploy to get attention for a serious subject.
More than 18,000 police officers have died in the line of duty since the late 1700s, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which tracks the data.
Last year, 162 police officers were killed in the line of duty. That includes Smith, who was struck by a car while directing traffic in July.
“Knock on wood, we’ve never had anyone in our department die in the line of duty before,” Sherman said. “Then last year we did.”
Sherman, who has been on the department for 23 years, said he was close with Smith. He was a pallbearer at Smith’s funeral.
When Smith was killed, Sherman said members of the department began talking about how they could honor his memory. They purchased memorial rifles with donations. They held a special remembrance on Veterans Day, because Smith was a Vietnam veteran.
And members of the department began talking about the annual “Police Week” in Washington D.C., where fallen officers are honored throughout a week of ceremonies and events. The Police Unity Tour ride happens in the days before Police Week, and drops the riders off in the heart of the activity.
The Tour
The Police Unity Tour started in 1997 with 18 riders, who sought to bring national attention to and honor police officers who have died in the line of duty.
Last year, more than 1,200 people participated in the ride, raising $1.3 million. The group’s motto is “We ride for those who died.”
The ride is 300 miles, from New Jersey to Washington D.C.
Police week attracts tens of thousands of participants each year.
A group of Shelton officers usually attend the Police Week, said Lt. Robert Kozlowsky. More will probably go this year because of the personal significance.
“It’s definitely a different perspective when you have an officer who died in your department,” Kozlowsky said. “It’s not just a name.”
Members of the department were looking for someone to complete the tedious ride, and Sherman ended up volunteering.
He said at first he was having trouble psyching himself up for the ride. Sherman rides a mountain bicycle, but has never done any street riding before.
He’s been training on the treadmill and exercise bike, and talking with others who have made the ride before.
His friend, Lt. Pam Gustovich of the Greenwich Police department, rode her bike last year and told him about the experience.
“If you think about it, it’s a long way,” Sherman said. “But you don’t think about the ride as you’re doing it. It’s amazing how many people are out to see this. Thousands of people. It’s really something.”
Donations
So far, Sherman has raised $700. The new bike he purchased for the ride — a Gary Fisher Road bike — was part donation too, he said. Cycle Dynamics bike shop in Westport gave him a “generous” discount on the bike, and the Shelton Police Union paid the difference.
Sherman has a couple more months to raise the rest of the money.
Donations can be made online, or checks can be sent to the Shelton Police Department made out to Police Unity Tour Inc.
Click here to visit Sherman’s online donation page.
Officer Sherman can be contacted by calling (203) 924‑1544 ext. 349.
