Tribute for slain deputy part of 13-day Indiana police ride

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An annual police bicycle ride around Indiana to benefit the families of officers who’ve died in the line of duty will include a tribute to a sheriff’s deputy killed during a shootout last year.

The 13-day Cops Cycling for Survivors ride started this morning after a departure ceremony outside the Statehouse in downtown Indianapolis.

Organizers say the first day’s route will take riders to Kokomo, where they will take part in an event honoring Howard County Deputy Carl Koontz. He was killed and another officer wounded during a March 2016 shootout in Russiaville (ROO’-shuh-vil) with a gunman who killed himself.

The ride is set to cover nearly 1,000 miles and conclude July 22 at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.