This past Wednesday, the parking lot at House of Harley-Davidson looked a little different.
Instead of riders rolling in for their next service appointment or browsing the latest 2025 models, our space became the official send-off site for a fleet of police motorcycles. Departments from across southeastern Wisconsin—including Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Wisconsin State Patrol, Brookfield, UW–Madison, New Berlin, and Evanston, IL—gathered here to load their units onto a semi bound for Washington, D.C.
The mission? A ride of remembrance. These bikes and the officers who operate them will take part in National Police Week (May 11–17), escorting the families of fallen officers during memorial ceremonies on the National Mall. This year, 345 names will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial—including 148 who gave their lives in 2024 alone.
For us, this effort is deeply personal.
Jeff Binkert, President and Owner of House of Harley-Davidson, is a staunch supporter of law enforcement and public safety personnel. He’s made it a point to back efforts that show meaningful gratitude—not just with words, but with action. Jeff Lloyd, President of HaulBikes (also Milwaukee-based), generously donated the use of the semi-truck transporting the bikes, which is wrapped in tribute to the fallen. And the transport itself? Funded in part by House of Harley-Davidson as a show of respect to those who serve and protect.
Mark McClain, who leads our Business Development and Government Relations efforts, has a longstanding connection to the law enforcement community. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Milwaukee Police Foundation and works closely with departments across the region on public safety initiatives.
And myself? Before my years in retail and dealership leadership, I served nearly a decade as a law enforcement officer in the Atlanta metro area. So while this week may be “National Police Week,” for many of us, it’s personal 52 weeks a year.
We were honored to be the last stop before these units made their journey to D.C., and prouder still to know that Wisconsin will be represented with dignity, discipline, and pride in our nation’s capital.
To all the officers riding in honor, to the families making that journey, and to the brothers and sisters we’ve lost—we stand with you. We ride with you.
To learn more about National Police Week and the Candlelight Vigil on May 13, visit: https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2025