Blue Knights® Illinois XIX Information

The BLUE KNIGHTS^® is a non-profit fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law enforcement men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles.
In the Spring of 1974, Ed Gallant from the Bangor, Maine Police Department and Chuck Shuman from the Brewer, Maine Police Department met with other Officers* from the area and formed a small, local motorcycle club. The rest, as they say, is history.
Soon Blue Knights^® Chapters were being formed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and beyond. With the addition of Canada, and later Australia, the Blue Knights^® became an international organization.

*Our Founding Fathers are: Ed Gallant, Chuck Shuman, Chuck Gesner, Mike Hall, Wayne Labree, Doug Miner, Bill Robinson and Joel Rudom

The Blue Knights^® have 19,500+ members in 650 chapters in 11 Conferences in 29 countries!

According to the by-laws, our purposes and goals are to:

Provide for the mutual assistance, enjoyment, entertainment, education, physical, mental and social benefit of its members and the general public.
To promote and advance the sport of motorcycling and the safety of motorcycling.
To serve the interests of motorcycle owners and users.
To promote by example and any other acceptable means, safe use, operation and enjoyment of motorcycles.
To develop a fraternal spirit between law enforcement personnel and the general public.

Many Blue Knights^® work long and hard to raise money for various charities. Especially near to our hearts is helping children. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Toys for Tots, D.A.R.E., and Concerns of Police Survivors are examples of our favorites.

We're the good guys!

The Blue Knights^® is a family fraternity. Spouses and children often accompany our members to the various rides and funtions. When travelling, local members can provide assistance, directions and sometimes a place to stay. We are truly a family.

Among the Blue Knights^® members,
"There are no strangers, only friends you haven't met."

MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS (briefly):

Be an active or retired 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 or will own a motorcycle within 6 months of becoming a member.