TOMS RIVER – Hundreds of police officers on bicycles along with dozens of support vehicles made their way into downtown Toms River today (May 9) as part of the annual Police Unity Tour stopping to pay tribute to two officers from Ocean County that made the ultimate sacrifice.

"It was our honor to have the Ocean County Justice Complex on Hooper Avenue chosen by the Police Unity Tour to host its Rose Ceremony," said Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy. "The County has performed this function in the past.

"This year the Rose Ceremony honored Sgt. Matthew Horton of the Ocean County Sheriff's Office whose end of watch was Feb. 22, 2022 and Captain Joseph Goertz of the Lakewood Police Department whose end of watch was Oct. 31, 2021," Mastronardy said.

As part of the simple but solemn ceremony, emceed by Ocean County Sheriff's Office Captain Craig Johnson, loved ones of the officers were presented with gold roses from representatives of the Unity Tour and their respective police departments in addition to proclamations from the Ocean County Board of Commissioners honoring the fallen.

"We are here today to express our deepest appreciation to Sgt. Horton and to Captain Goertz, and to their loved ones and colleagues," said Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Gary Quinn. "While Sgt. Horton provided 15 years of service to the Ocean County Sheriff's Office and Captain Goertz, 23 years of service to the Lakewood Police Department, we cannot quantify the good they have done simply in time. Rather, we know that their service to law enforcement came with compassion, concern, courage and character."

Quinn, liaison to the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, was joined by his Board colleagues, Director Joseph H. Vicari, and Commissioners Virginia E. Haines and Barbara Jo Crea in presenting the Board's proclamations.

"As the Unity Tour completes its ride this year, the legacies of Sergeant Horton and Captain Goertz will receive a place in our nation's history that they rightly deserve at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial," Quinn said. "They served and sacrificed for a purpose far greater than themselves."

Morgan Blann, Brick Township, also was honored during the ceremony by survivors, John Tobias, Denise Tobias and Lisa Preslar, for her ongoing efforts to raise awareness and honor fallen officers or firefighters as part of Running 4 Heroes, a charitable organization, started in 2019, that provides help to first responders.

Upon the completion of the Rose Ceremony the riders mounted their bikes and headed to their next destination.