2016 -- H 8011

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LC005528

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING JAMES KAREEMO ON THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF HIS 80TH

BIRTHDAY

     Introduced By: Representatives Tobon, Barros, Abney, Johnston, and Messier

     Date Introduced: March 29, 2016

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, James Kareemo, better known as "Jimmy", was born eight decades ago on

March 28th of 1936. The country was finally coming out of the Great Depression under the

Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the cost of bread was 8¢ a loaf, and the average salary

was $1,600 a year; and

     WHEREAS, In 1963, Mr. Kareemo joined the Pawtucket Police Force as a Patrolman.

His compassion and involvement with the neighborhoods he patrolled was renowned and he

quickly earned a reputation as an officer who had an innate ability to handle problems and truly

cared about the people he protected; and

     WHEREAS, During his years on the force, Mr. Kareemo faced many life and death

situations, as do many of our brave men in blue, but few as dangerous as the early morning hours

following his 41st birthday. After having served a full day shift, Mr. Kareemo was working on the

Family Crisis Team, which counsels runaways, suicides and family disputes. He was called on

what was thought to be a "routine" call, but immediately upon arriving at the scene, he was

stabbed seven times by a 19 year old assailant who was involved in a domestic dispute at the

address; and

     WHEREAS, Although gravely wounded, Officer Kareemo was still able to fire four

shots, wounding his assailant in the arm and making possible his subsequent arrest. He was

awarded the Attorney General's Law Enforcement Award, the City of Pawtucket's Blue Star

Award, and the National Law Enforcement Military Order of the Purple Heart Award for his

heroic efforts; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Kareemo served our country with honor in the United States Army and

as a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He also served the community as a

School Committee member for fifteen years, and upon retirement from the police force, he was

employed in a variety of positions including, Executive Director of the Police Stress Association

and as a Deputy Sheriff in the Providence Family Court. He and his wife, Joyce, are the parents

of Stephen, Joyce, and David; and

     WHEREAS, James Kareemo is a widely respected and beloved gentleman. Over the last

eighty years, he has impacted the lives of so many people with his wealth of knowledge, his

wonderful demeanor, and his exuberance for life, and all who are lucky enough to be a part of his

extraordinary life are proud to call him their friend; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby join the family and many friends of James Kareemo in honoring

him on the very special occasion of his 80th Birthday. We moreover wish him and all the

members of his family the very best health and happiness for many years to come; 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 Mr. James Kareemo.

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LC005528

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