The Final Douglas County “Blue Thunder Memorial Ride”
Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden, Public Information Officer, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
303-660-7586
Final Douglas County “Blue Thunder Memorial Ride” Was a Huge Success
The 10th Annual “Blue Thunder Memorial Ride” took place on Saturday, May 30th and was a huge success. Over $4,600 was raised for a fund that was named in honor of Douglas County Deputy Ron King who was killed in the line of duty. The funds are used to award scholarships to local high school seniors.
This was the third year that the motorcycle ride took place as a poker run and was again extremely popular. The ride began at the Sheriff’s Office and started with a blessing from the DCSO chaplain as well as a musical accompaniment by a member of the Colorado Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. There were 151 bikes and 173 participants. The sponsors for the ride were the Fraternal Order of Police-South Metro Lodge 47 and the Sentinels Motorcycle Club. The Poker stops for the ride were the Sheriff’s Office, The Ranch Grill, The Rib Crib, The Morrison Inn, and ended with a celebration dinner at The Buffalo Rose Saloon. 
Some of the businesses that donated items for the silent auction: Robusto Room, The Rio, Bogies & Stogies, Sky Ventures, multiple casinos in Black Hawk, Thunder Mountain and Rocky Mountain Harley Davidson, Best Buy, Home Depot, Rock Mountain Guns and Ammo, Tattered Cover bookstore, Gabriel’s, The Piper, Lansdowne Arms and many more. Live music was provided by the Parker Brother’s Band.
Deputy Ron King was a motorcycle officer that was killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver. The annual ride and scholarship fund was set up to honor Ron, whose law enforcement career (Douglas County and the State of Colorado), demonstrated his never-ending passion and dedication to the service and protection of the citizens, especially the youth, of Douglas County.
