2023 -- H 6417

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LC002939

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF MAY 14 THROUGH MAY 20, 2023, TO BE "NATIONAL

POLICE WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL THE

POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE

LINE OF DUTY

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Finkelman, Dawson, Costantino, McEntee, and Felix

     Date Introduced: May 18, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, In 1962, President John Kennedy signed a proclamation declaring May 15th

of each year to be National Police Officers Memorial Day and the week in which May 15th falls

to be National Police Week. In 1994, President Clinton directed that the United States flag be

flown at half-staff every May 15th; and

     WHEREAS, This year, during the week of May 14 through May 20, Rhode Islanders

remember and honor all the brave men and women serving as police and law enforcement

officers who through the years have made the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect the public in

service to our nation; and

     WHEREAS, Thus far in 2023, 556 officers have been killed in the line of duty across

America; and

     WHEREAS, Per the FBI data base, 323 police officers were shot in 2022, and 60,105

officers were assaulted while performing their duties. FBI Director Christopher Wray has stated

that on average, a law enforcement officer is murdered more often than every five days in the

United States; and

     WHEREAS, According to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), a nonprofit

organization that keeps track of all statistics related to law enforcement officers killed in the line

of duty, since 1791, there have been 26,291 known line-of-duty deaths, including 54 from the

State of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Each year during National Police Week, approximately 25,000 to 40,000

attendees congregate in Washington D.C., at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

where they attend vigils and services to honor the memory of all the police and law enforcement

officers who have perished in service to our nation; now, therefore be it

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

proclaims May 14 through May 20 of 2023, to be "National Police Week" in the State of Rhode

Island; and be it further

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

transmit duly certified copies of the resolution to the International Brotherhood of Police Officers,

Mr. Patrick Yoes, National President, Fraternal Order of Police, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs

Association, and the Rhode Island Troopers Association.

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LC002939

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