RIDE

Blue Knights Illinois XXI was founded in 1996 in Macoupin County, Illinois. Click the link to learn more about the history of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.

ABOUT THE BLUE KNIGHTS

WITH

Membership is open to current and retired Law Enforcement Professionals that own a personal motorcycle, or are planning on getting one within the next six months. Click the link to see if you qualify for membership.

REQUIREMENTS

PRIDE

When you join the Blue Knights, you become a part of a law enforcement brotherhood that also share a love of motorcycling. The best of both worlds. So what are you waiting for? Contact us using the link below.

CONTACT US About No Frame

IT ALL STARTED IN 1974. . . .

The Blue Knights® International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Inc started in April 1974 when Ed Gallant, a police officer with the Bangor, Maine Police Department, had an idea and 4 or 5 other Police Officersworked with him to see the idea become a reality. They all enjoyed motorcycles and they all enjoyed riding. The idea was simple, “lets just form a motorcycle club for law enforcement officers”! Some of the early members were Chuck Shuman and Urgan Dyer, of the Brewer Police Department; Wayne LaBree, Sheriff's Office; Dough Miner, Game Warden Service; Bill Robinson, Maine State Police; Joel Rudom, Peboscot County Sheriff's Department; and Chuck Gessner, Probation & Parole.The name "Blue Knights" was suggested by Dave Coleman, Chief of the Brewer Police Department and John Bryant, an artist for the Brewer Police Department, (not a member of the Blue Knights) drew the logo for the club.The news of the Blue Knights organization began to spread after articles ran in the Bangor Daily News and in the Road Rider magazine. Inquiries by Dick DeLesliner and John Darrah of the Brockton Police Department in Brockton lead to the first chapter in Massachusetts. In November of 1974, the 1st meeting of a MA Chapter was held at the Brockton Police Department. Dick and John got onto the teletype and sent information out to all the other departments. As a result, inquiries started pouring into Maine. The MA I Charter was set up, not only by Dick and John, but with the help Joe Ensko, John Dolye, George Dixon, Evan Gurman, Larry Bennet, Ozzi B., Mike McInturff, Ron Blood, Willie Doo and many others. The chapter grew to over 300 members. However, because the officers were coming from all over the state, the chapter eventually divided into 16 other chapters through out the state.The Blue Knights continued to grow over the years, as has the structure, which now includes an expanded International Board, Conferences and Chapters. The Blue Knights are an incorporated fraternal organization operating under an International Constitution and Bylaws. The organization has survived many growing pains to reach its size today. Now there are approximately 18,000 Blue Knights, (more than 391 Chapters) in 24 countries worldwide. Some are the following: United States, Canada, Australia, France, England, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Norway, and Mexico...and we grow annually. Ed Gallant's dream of having a motorcycle club and riding with fellow officers has become a reality.The Blue Knights organization have been very active in various charities, many of the projects include: September 11th Fund, Toys for Tots (our Chapter - Brockton Area), C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors), Special Olympics, Shriners Burn Center, Ronald McDonald House and many other Chapters events as well as many non Blue Knights events. If you want, you can find a Ride every weekend ranging from charities, “Blessing of the Bikes” in early spring to “poker runs”, “toy rides” to even a “Polar Bear Ride” in December. There is always a worthy cause and a great ride.The Blue Knights is a family fraternity. Spouses and children often accompany our members to the various rides and functions. When traveling, it’s very common to see two Blue Helmets to a bike. Additionally, local members provide assistance, directions and sometimes a place to stay to visiting Blue Knights’. We are truly a family. Among the Blue Knights members, "There are no strangers, only friends you haven't met."

Gallery

Motorcycle
Cruiser
Classic Bike
Harley
Red Bike
Suzuki
Muffler
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Motorbike
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Motorcycle
Cruiser
Classic Bike
Harley
Red Bike
Suzuki
Muffler
ny09
ny01
ny02
ny05
Motorbike
ny03
ny04
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ILLINOIS XXI PHOTO GALLERY

Runs are no fun if you don't have any pictures to share. So this gallery was created to show us, our bikes, runs, and events we are putting on or attending. Check back once in a while to see if we have added anything new.

Requirements

bkapp07.pdf

Membership Requirements

Briefly, to qualify for membership you must:

Be an active full or part time law enforcement officer with powers of arrest.

Be employed by a governmental agency and receive monetary compensation,

or be a retired or disabled former law enforcement officer.

Possess a valid license to operate a motorcycle.

Own a motorcycle or plan to purchase one within six months.

Membership ClassificationsRegular Members: All regular members must be persons who are full time (32 hours per week minimum) employees of a governmental law enforcement agency or department. Such employment must be the primary source of employment of all Regular members. All Regular members must have arrest authority. Persons receiving disability income or job reclassification due to injuries received while engaged in law enforcement employment or who are receiving retirement income for full-time employment as herein defined, by a governmental law enforcement agency or department are eligible for Regular membership although they are not presently employed by such a law enforcement agency or department. Persons who have served twenty (20) years or more and have been a Blue Knight for one (1) year or more, who have taken a retirement option and who have taken a separation from law enforcement employment, under honorable circumstances, and will at some time receive retirement income for full-time employment, as herein defined, by a government law enforcement agency or department are eligible for Regular membership although they are not presently employed by such a law enforcement agency or department. The person must provide letters of proof of honorary separation from all departments. Persons who are presently Regular members for one (1) year or more and who have fifteen (15) years or more with a law enforcement agency or department who have for any honorable circumstance, taken a separation from an agency or department are eligible for Associate membership although they may not be employed by a law enforcement agency or department. The person must provide letters of proof of honorable separation from all departments. Persons who are presently Regular members for five (5) years or more and who have served ten (10) years or more with a law enforcement agency, who have for any honorable circumstance, taken a separation from their agency are eligible for Associate membership although they may not be employed by a law enforcement agency or department. The person must provide proof of honorable separation. Each Regular member must be properly licensed to drive a motorcycle by the State or Province in which he resides and must own a motorcycle, excepting, however, that persons who otherwise qualify as Regular members, but do not own motorcycles, may become members if they have plans to own a motorcycle and do in fact acquire ownership rights in a motorcycle within six (6) months of their acceptance as members. Any Regular member who because of an injury or medical or physical condition is unable to continue riding a motorcycle, may retain his/her membership as a regular member. Associate Members:All Associate members must be persons who are employed on a part time basis (less than 32 hours per week, minimum 10 hours per year) by a governmental law enforcement agency or department and receiving monetary compensation for such employment. All Associate members must have arrest authority. Any Associate member on May 24, 1983 shall have the right to continue as an Associate member if he meets all other requirements. Persons who have been employed on a part time basis (less than 32 hours per week, minimum 10 hours per year) by a governmental law enforcement agency or department for fifteen (15) years or more and have been a Blue Knight for five (5) years or more who have taken an honorable separation from his/her law enforcement agency or department (reasons - health, retirement, age, or injury) are eligible for Associate membership although they may not be employed by any law enforcement agency or department, and are not receiving retirement compensation. They must provide letters of proof of honorable separation. A person may also qualify for Associate membership as per Section 1, paragraph 4. Each Associate member must be properly licensed to drive a motorcycle by the State or Province in which he resides and must own a motorcycle, excepting however, that persons who otherwise qualify as Associate members, but do not own motorcycles, may become members if they have plans to own a motorcycle and do in fact acquire ownership rights in a motorcycle within six (6) months of their acceptance as a member. Any Associate member who because of an injury or medical or physical condition is unable to continue riding a motorcycle, may retain his/her membership as an Associate member. Honorary Members:Honorary members must be persons who have substantially contributed to the promotion of the Corporation and to the purposes for which the corporation is organized. Honorary membership in any given chapter may not exceed more than ten percent (10%) of the previous year's membership of Regular, Associate and Life members. Life Members:Life members are restricted to the Founding Fathers of the International and past international Presidents in good standing. Life members are not obligated to be a member of a chapter. Special Honorary Members:Special honorary membership may be granted to an ordained member of a recognized religious order for the position of chapter Chaplain. This is limited to one (1) per chapter and will not affect the chapter's ten percent (10%) honorary limit. Honorary members must complete a new application annually and be approved by the Board of Directors.If you are interested in applying for membership, feel free to download a copy of the application. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the application.
Contact No Frame

PO BOX 887, PANAMA, IL 62077

Feel free to write and ask any questions you may have.

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BLUE KNIGHTSILLINOIS XXIBlue Knights IL XXIPO Box 887, Panama, Illinois 62077 (217) 502-1331

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