Attendees for 16th Annual Ronnie Lerma Motorcycle Poker Run gather at Prestige Ford in Garland for the charitable event
Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford in Garland is proud to be part of yet another successful Ronnie Lerma Motorcycle Poker Run. The 16th annual event was held at Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford Saturday morning from 9 to 11 a.m.
After the motorcycle run, the top 10 motorcycle show and top 20 car and truck show registration was held at Harley Davidson off of Centerville Road in Garland. Local sponsors donated items for the silent auction and there were family activities, vendors, food and door prizes.
The event is held to honor Officer Ronnie Ray Lerma, who began his career as a police officer with the City of Garland, Texas in 1987. He served as a patrol officer until 1995, at which time he became a Motorcycle Traffic Officer. On September 21, 1998, Officer Lerma was on duty working a traffic assignment on LBJ. While on the inside shoulder of the freeway issuing a citation, he was struck and fatally injured by an oncoming vehicle attempting to pass on the shoulder. Officer Lerma was survived by his wife and two young children ages 5 and 9.
In memory and to honor Officer Lerma, the other officers of the Garland Police Department wanted to stage an event to remember his life and his sacrifice. Because 
Officer Lerma was a motorcycle officer and he also had a love for classic cars, it was decided to have a car and motorcycle show with all the proceeds from the show going to a charity of the family’s choice. The first show took place in 2001 and continues to this day as an annual event.
Metroplex chapter of C.O.P.S. is a non-profit 501© (3) organization that allows C.O.P.S. to reimburse survivors for their travel expenses to Hands on Programs held for survivors, to meet other survivors and receive essential peer and professional support. It allows for training for law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and dealing with the day-to-day traumas experienced by officers working our increasingly violent streets.
More information on this great organization can be found at www.metroplexcops.org. To learn more about Prestige Ford, visit www.PrestigeGarland.com.