ISU’s Woodruff participating in Ride Across Illinois

Posted on July 15, 2015
Aaron Woodruff
ISU Police Chief Aaron Woodruff will be biking from Alton to Lake Michigan with 50 other riders starting Thursday. (WJBC file photo)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois State University’s police chief is preparing to cycle across the state this week.

Why? Because Chief Aaron Woodruff is riding in the Concerns of Police Survivors’ (C.O.P.S.) 11th annual Ride Across Illinois event.

“This organization, what they do is they reach out to those family members of officers killed in the line of duty and they support them,” Woodruff said.

The ride begins Thursday morning in Alton and ends about 380 miles later on Sunday afternoon at Lake Michigan.

Woodruff said he’s been involved with C.O.P.S. since ISU Detective Anthony Hosey was killed in a car crash 10 years ago.

“They are there to help in the grieving process, help get emotional recovery,” said Woodruff. “They also are there with support services. They have a summer camp for kids to help them get through the issues that they’re going to face.”

About 50 riders are participating this year. Woodruff said the group is a mix of law enforcement and survivors.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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