Four Suffolk police officers and one retired Suffolk police officer are helping raise awareness of the risks law enforcement professionals take every day by pedaling their way to Washington, D.C.

Nicole Heyward, Lydia Harry, Shelly Koziana, Benjamin Delugo and retired lieutenant Allan Iversen are today on their third day of the 2012 Police Unity Tour and due to finish at the National Law Enforcement Memorial at 3 p.m. after starting from Chesapeake Thursday.

Speaking from near Quantico early Friday evening, and sounding weary after a second long day in the saddle, Heyward said it was the retired lieutenant Iversen who rallied the Suffolk troops to get involved.

“I’m doing it because the lieutenant I used to work with talked about it all the time,” Heyward said.

“Just growing up and always being on a bicycle” was another reason for her involvement, she said. “I did some research … (and discovered) the cause is a great cause because it is a nonprofit organization and you are helping to give back to families of fallen law enforcement officers around the country,” she added.

The first Unity Tour was organized by a New Jersey police officer in 1997, to bring attention to and honor the sacrifices of colleagues who had died in the line of duty.

It fielded 18 riders and raised $18,000, while the 2011 event involved 1,400 riders and raised nearly $10 million.

In 2012 to date, according to preliminary statistics posted on the tour website, 40 police officers have died doing their job.

One of those was from Virginia, and six police officers from the state reportedly died in 2011.

The last Suffolk police officer to die in the line of duty was William Andrew “Drew” Henley, in 2005.

Before Henley, Policeman George T. Smith died in 1908, Chief William E. Brinkley died in 1918, and Patrolman Joseph S. Pratt died in 1935.

Heyward said the 240-mile ride is physically tough. “It’s a lot on the body if you are not used to riding long distances,” she said.

“You have to keep in a group — you want to stay close to the person in front to prevent the wind from making you work a little harder.”

Riders on the tour paused for a break Thursday in the parking lot of North Suffolk’s Vintage Tavern.

Traffic on Bridge Road was stopped just after 9 a.m. as the bicyclists turned left off Governors Pointe Drive to make their way toward the James River Bridge.