2015 -- H 6323

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LC002892

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING EAST GREENWICH PATROLMAN MATTHEW C. WHITE ON BEING

AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR BRAVERY FOR SAVING A LIFE

     Introduced By: Representatives Giarrusso, Mattiello, Gallison, Johnston, and Almeida

     Date Introduced: June 18, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Every day, Police officers risk their lives to protect the lives and property of

the people they serve. However, sometimes extraordinary courage and bravery is required from a

police officer to save a life. East Greenwich Patrolman Matthew C. White answered the call of

duty under trying and dangerous circumstances and heroically saved a person's life; and

     WHEREAS, On April 3, 2015, Officer White responded to an urgent 911 call from a

woman who had seen an intoxicated man stumbling down the train tracks. Upon arriving on the

scene, Officer White saw the man lying down on the tracks and immediately radioed dispatchers

asking them to contact Amtrak to stop all approaching trains. He then approached the man and

told him to get off the tracks. Shortly thereafter, a train approached and Officer White raced to the

man to get him off the tracks. The suspect put up a fight, kicking and swinging, demanding "let

me go! It's over, it's over." Officer White, with a train still approaching, had to think fast. He

subdued the man, picked him up in a fireman's carry, and was forced to toss him off the tracks

and then dive off the tracks himself in order to avoid the passing train; and

     WHEREAS, Patrolman White acted above and beyond the call of duty when he

courageously risked his life to save the life of a fellow citizen. For this, Officer White has been

awarded the Silver Star by the National Police Chiefs Associations' Police Hall of Fame, and

serves as an inspiration to all of us; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates East Greenwich Patrolman Matthew White for

earning the Silver Star for bravery, and thanks him for saving a person's life on April 3, 2015; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to East Greenwich Patrolman Matthew C. White.

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LC002892

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