| R 245 |
| 2021 -- H 6321 Enacted 05/11/2021 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RECOGNIZING MAY 15TH AS "NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY" AND COMMEMORATING MAY 9TH -15TH, 2021, AS "NATIONAL POLICE WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Shekarchi, Amore, Filippi, Chippendale, Casimiro, Corvese, Vella-Wilkinson, and Baginski |
| Date Introduced: May 11, 2021 |
| WHEREAS, In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation declaring May |
| 15th of each year to be National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which May 15th |
| falls to be National Police Week. In 1966, it was enacted in the Rhode Island General Laws, and |
| in 1994, President William Jefferson Clinton directed that the United States Flag be flown at half- |
| staff every May 15th; and |
| WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island annually commemorates “National Police Week” |
| in memory of those police officers who have selflessly died or been disabled in the line of duty |
| protecting and serving the citizenry of our State; and |
| WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, a total of fifty-one police officers have given their lives in |
| the line of duty, and in 2020 alone, 264 federal, state, military, tribal, and local law enforcement |
| officers across the country died in the line-of-duty, many due to COVID-19 while engaged in a |
| line-of-duty action or activity. It was the highest number of police officer deaths since 1974; and |
| WHEREAS, Police officers in the State of Rhode Island and across America work |
| diligently on behalf of the people without regard to the peril or hazards they face each and every |
| day as they safeguard our lives, our rights and freedoms, and our property. It is important to |
| recognize and thank these noble and courageous individuals; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| recognizes May 15th as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” and celebrates the week of May 9th -- |
| 15th , 2021, as “National Police Week” in our State, and invites all Rhode Island communities |
| and citizenry to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this House hereby offers sincere condolences to the families and |
| friends of the valiant and heroic police officers who have given their lives or have been disabled |
| in the performance of their duty 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 this resolution to the Rhode Island State Lodge Fraternal Order |
| of Police, and the Rhode Island International Brotherhood of Police Officers. |
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| LC002769 |
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