Florida Tour de Force Honors Fallen Officers with 270-Mile Charity Ride

The 30th anniversary event made a stop in Boca Raton on the first day of the five-day trek across the state.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:04pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, vibrant colors depicting a group of cyclists riding through a city street, with the figures and surroundings broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in the style of Pablo Picasso, conceptually representing the Florida Tour de Force charity ride.A cubist interpretation of the Florida Tour de Force charity bicycle ride, honoring fallen law enforcement officers through a fragmented, geometric depiction of the cyclists' journey.Boca Raton Today

The Florida Tour de Force, a 270-mile charity bicycle ride held in honor of fallen law enforcement officers and their families, made a stop in Boca Raton on Monday as part of the first day of the five-day event. The ride, now in its 30th year, began in North Miami Beach and is scheduled to end in Daytona Beach Shores, crossing eight counties and more than 40 law enforcement jurisdictions along the way.

Why it matters

The Florida Tour de Force was founded to help support the families of Florida law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The annual ride raises funds and awareness for this cause, with the event culminating in a memorial observance in Tallahassee where surviving families are presented with checks and memorabilia.

The details

On the first day of the ride, the cyclists battled steady crosswinds as they made their way north through Broward County, including a stretch through the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel in Fort Lauderdale. The Boca Raton Police Department hosted the group for the final rest stop of the day, allowing riders to refuel and rehydrate before finishing the day's route.

  • The Florida Tour de Force began on April 13, 2026 in North Miami Beach.
  • The riders reached Boca Raton on the first day of the five-day, 270-mile ride on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • The event is scheduled to end on April 17, 2026 in Daytona Beach Shores.

The players

Florida Tour de Force

A nonprofit organization that hosts an annual charity bicycle ride to honor fallen law enforcement officers and support their families.

Mike DeMarcus

The founder of the Florida Tour de Force, who started the event after seeing the pain and loss faced by families when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper was killed in the line of duty.

Boca Raton Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that hosted the riders for the final rest stop of the first day of the Florida Tour de Force.

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What they’re saying

“The Boca Raton Police Department hosted the group for the final rest stop of Day 1, giving riders a chance to refuel and rehydrate before finishing the day's route.”

— Boca Raton Police Department

“Organizers publicly thanked the Boca Raton Police Department for sponsoring and hosting the final Day 1 rest stop, calling the department's support meaningful to both riders and staff.”

— Tour Organizers

What’s next

Day 2 of the Florida Tour de Force will continue on Tuesday as the group heads north, with organizers promising to provide updates from the road throughout the week.

The takeaway

The Florida Tour de Force is a long-running annual event that honors fallen law enforcement officers and supports their families, with the ride culminating in a memorial observance in Tallahassee. The Boca Raton stop underscored the local law enforcement community's role in this statewide effort to recognize and assist those impacted by the loss of officers in the line of duty.