Air and Marine Operations Agents bicycle from Florida to New York to honor fallen heroes in Brotherhood Ride

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from the Air and Marine Operations (AMO) National Air Security Operations Center in Jacksonville are among participants in this year’s Brotherhood Ride, a 1,700-mile cycling tour conducted by law enforcement officers and first responder bicyclists. The 22-day ride stretches between Naples, Florida, and Ground Zero in New York City between August 21 and September 11. Participants ride between 70 and 100 miles per day in honor of 26 Florida Fallen Heroes who died in the line of duty in 2020 and first responders who have died of 9/11-related illnesses.

AMO Agents Jon Montanaro and Timo Bennett are among the 40-cyclist team composed of first responders and law enforcement officers. They joined the group of riders and 20 support volunteers on the fifth day of the tour in Ormond Beach, Florida.

On September 7, the riders embarked from Washington D.C., through Virginia, to Maryland. A Manassas Air Branch S-76 aircrew conducted a fly-over of the event near Fairfax, Virginia. The group will complete the final leg into New York City to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 at Ground Zero on September 11.

AMO safeguards our nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond. With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO serves as the nation’s experts in airborne and maritime law enforcement.

In Fiscal Year 2020, AMO enforcement actions resulted in the seizure or disruption of 194,220 pounds of cocaine, 278,492 pounds of marijuana, 15,985 pounds of methamphetamine, 952 weapons and $51.5 million as well as 1,066 arrests and 47,872 apprehensions of undocumented migrants.