2020 -- H 7424

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LC004352

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF RETIRED BRISTOL POLICE CHIEF

RUSSELL SERPA

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Donovan, Hull, Johnston, and Canario

     Date Introduced: February 04, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Russell “Rusty” Serpa, retired Chief Bristol Police Department, passed

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away on January 31, 2020. He was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, and was the devoted

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husband of Lydia for forty-one years, and the son of the late Joseph and Virginia Serpa; and

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     WHEREAS, Russell Serpa was a Sergeant in the United States Army who served our

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nation with honor from 1965 to 1966 in Vietnam; and

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     WHEREAS, After leaving military service, Chief Serpa joined the Bristol Police

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Department and served the Town with integrity and distinction for thirty-nine years, including

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twelve as Police Chief. Amongst his many outstanding achievements as Police Chief, his greatest

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accomplishment was providing the leadership, direction and supervision that brought the Bristol

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Police Department in sync with the highest professional standards and obtaining accreditation

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from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA); and

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     WHEREAS, Chief Serpa attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement and

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a Master’s degree in Business from Salve Regina College. He also attended the elite FBI National

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Academy, Command Level Leadership Program in 1989, and the FBI Law Enforcement

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Executive Development Association; and

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     WHEREAS, Chief Serpa served as the President of the Rhode Island Police Chief’s

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Association in 2005, and as the President of both the Rhode Island Chapter and New England

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Chapter of the FBI National Associates. He also served as a board member and President of the

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Board of Directors for the East Bay Community Development Corporation, was a life member of

 

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the Disabled American Veterans, a social member of the Bristol Fire Department (Hydraulions), a

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member and past treasurer of the Elks, and, as a golfer, he was a member of the Montaup Country

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Club; and

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     WHEREAS, In 2005, Chief Serpa had the high honor of being named the 220th Chief

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Marshal of the Bristol Fourth of July Parade. He was also the Chief Marshal for the Memorial

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Day Parade and the Bristol Recreation Children’s Parade; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Lydia, Chief Serpa leaves behind his sons, Russell

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Jr., and Christopher and his spouse, Alex, and his two granddaughters, Mila Mae and Rowan

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Walker Serpa. He also leaves behind his brother, James and his wife, Sylvia, and was preceded in

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death by his brother, Joseph and sister, Virginia; 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 expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of retired Bristol

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Police Chief Russell Serpa; 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 Mrs. Lydia Serpa and Family.

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