Huntington Quarterly Autumn 2022

Casey, who spent 24 years with the HPD and is now working in law en forcement for the Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center. Businessman Bob Shell has been so impressed by the quality of the members and their contributions to the community that he approached Casey at one point and asked what he could do to help. The result is the clubhouse, which Shell purchased, renovated and donated to the Blue Knights. The building is available for rent from the Blue Knights for birthday parties and other special events. Shell also has offered his business attorney’s legal counsel to help the

The Blue Knights have honored families of fallen military, supported Alzheimer’s research and much more.

from Buddy’s to Burlington, Ohio. Law enforcement fromWest Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky control traffic for the ride as the bikers pass through all three states, raising thousands of dollars to help the kids have a good Christmas. Ride with Cops was started in the 1990s

Blue Knights set up a foundation that allows them to maintain their community contribution efforts and the clubhouse. “Giving them a solid homebase to enjoy time together and meet to organize their efforts was the least I could

by the Huntington Police Department (HPD) traffic unit and was later taken over by the Blue Knights. “Loving motorcycles is a bond that brings a lot of different types of people together,” Casey explained. “I was in the military for 12 years; and when I got home, I was looking for that same kind of brotherhood. I really found it when I started in the motor unit at the HPD. We would go out after work for a beer or go on long rides on the weekend. It was a comfort to me. It was my wheelhouse.”

do,” said Shell, chairman and CEOof Guyan International. “I felt concern for the guys. They have enough on their minds and put up with so much grief. I like cops. They do a job that most of us would not want to do. Despite the work they do and the things they see, they do a lot of great things that nobody knows about or appreciates.” Casey agrees, saying the Blue Knights are outstand ing individuals from differ ent states and units who do outstanding work as a group. “We have been blessed

Give to the Blue Knights Tax deductible contributions can be mailed to the Ride With COPS Charitable Foundation, a registered

501(c)(3) corporation. Ride With COPS Charitable Foundation P.O. Box 737 Huntington, WV25712

In the Blue Knights, there are the members who ride for work, and there are members who will spon taneously hop on a bike one weekend and ride to California just for fun. “We all love motorcycles and like to ride,” said Casey. “We like to have fun.” It’s good, clean fun. The kind that law-abiding cops have. “We’re not your typical motorcycle club,” noted

to have so many members who work tirelessly for the good of this community,” said Casey. “We have people with big hearts.”

JEAN HARDIMAN is a Huntington import who has been writing about the great people of West Virginia and the Tri-State area for the past 20 years. She works in the communications office at Marshall University and lives in Huntington with her family.

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