Const. Ian Scoyne plans to keep riding for fellow officers

Chatham-Kent Police Service Const. Ian Scoyne has been cycling a lot of kilometers these days in support of his brothers and sisters in law enforcement and their families.

The local officer was among 165 cyclists who took park in the nearly 700-kilometer Ride to Remember. The ride left the Ontario Police College near Aylmer on Wednesday and arrived in Ottawa Saturday ahead of the Canadian police and oeace officers’ memorial to honor fallen police offices, held Sunday.

“It was a fantastic ride,” said Scoyne, who celebrated his 32nd birthday during the trip.

Scoyne said he tried to convince some fellow officers to take part “but they all kind of looked at me like I was crazy.”

He was welcomed as part of the York Regional Police team that was participating.

This was Scoyne’s first year in the Ride to Remember and second year marching in the memorial in Ottawa.

The Friday before the memorial, RCMP Const. Rick O’Brien was shot and killed in the line of duty in Coquitlam. B.C.

Scoyne recalled marching in last year’s memorial just days after a funeral was held for Toronto police officer Andrew Hong, was shot and killed in an ambushon Sept. 12, 2022.

“Unfortunately, it’s two years in a row we’re standing on Parliament Hill doing a memorial with an officer’s death sitting over our heads,” Scoyne said.

“It definitely hits close to home, because my father is a retired police officer and my brother is a police officer,” he said.

Scoyne said the Ride to Remember was taking a rest stop outside of Brockville when word reached the group there had been another on-duty death of a police officer.

“Obviously that hits hard, because that’s the reason we’re all out there riding,” he said.

Ride to Remember organizers decided to have the RCMP team lead the riders into Brockville for their stop for the night, he said.

“We all had their backs and we’re tailing behind them making sure we all got there together,” Scoyne said.

His arrival into Ottawa with the Ride to Remember team was special.

Some officers fellow as well as his wife, children and parents were there to greet him when the ride arrived at Parliament Hill on Saturday, he said.

“It was a pretty rewarding to cross the line and have a lot of support standing on the hill waiting for me.”

This may have been Scoyne’s first year taking part in the Ride to Remember, but it won’t be his last.

“I plan on trying to do this as many years as I can,” said Scoyne, who has been cycling his entire life.

Scoyne has cycled a lot of kilometers this year, taking part in the 120-kilometer Ontario Police Memorial Foundation grand fondo in May. Early this month he also rode in the Mike Currie memorial torch run, in honor of the former Chatham-Kent police officer, who is remembered for his support of Special Olympics.

It’s more enjoyable riding with a group and meeting people, Scoyne said. “I’m a big advocate of supporting all the charities that help out the families of fallen officers.”