2019 -- H 5891

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LC002187

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING PROVIDENCE POLICE OFFICER MIKE MATRACIA FOR INSPIRING

OTHERS AND CHANGING THE WAY PEOPLE WITH MS AND OTHER DISABILITIES

ARE VIEWED, AND HIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF PROVIDENCE AND THE STATE

OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Lombardi, Hull, Edwards, Tobon, and Kislak

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Mike Matracia has been on the job as a Providence Police Officer for more

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than 28 years. Over the last fourteen years, he has carried out his duties in a motorized wheel

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chair; and

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     WHEREAS, In late 1997, halfway through his career, Officer Matracia was diagnosed

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with a life changing disease after a spinal tap showed multiple sclerosis; and

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     WHEREAS, Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the

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central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the

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brain and the body; and

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     WHEREAS, During his first four years on the force, Officer Matracia had been on street

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patrol. He then found a calling in community policing, and served as former Mayor Buddy

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Cianci's driver, as well as working security when Hillary Clinton came to town. Today, he is the

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go-to guy for student tours, both at headquarters and in schools, and continues his efforts in

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myriad areas of community service; and

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     WHEREAS, Imbued with the core belief that "people with disabilities have rights, they

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have aspirations and dreams." Mike became involved in a number of organizations that help

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people living with disabilities including serving as Vice President of the MS Dream Center in

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Cranston, and working with Access-RI, ATAP, and IIE. He also started a program at the Police

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Department where kids and adults with disabilities get to shadow him on the job; and

 

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     WHEREAS, Mike's positive attitude and perseverance, as well as his efforts on behalf of

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people living with MS and other disabilities, along with his strong belief that there is nothing

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better than wearing the uniform of a Providence police officer, have made him an individual truly

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deserving of our admiration, gratitude, and respect; now, therefore be it

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

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Providence Plantations hereby recognizes and honors Providence Police Officer Mike Matracia

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for inspiring others and changing the way people with MS and other disabilities are viewed, and

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his service to the people of Providence and the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Providence Police Officer Mike Matracia.

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LC002187

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