2022 -- H 7059

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF RETIRED COMMANDER

MICHAEL J. BABULA

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Vella-Wilkinson, Solomon, Bennett,
McNamara, Blazejewski, Shanley, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Michael J.

Babula, the beloved husband of Jeanne Babula, and the highly-respected, retired Commander of

the Warwick Police Department; and

     WHEREAS, Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Mr. Babula was the devoted son of the

late Vitald and Sadie Babula, the brother of Rachel Farnsworth and her husband, Donald, and a

wonderful uncle to his nieces and nephews. He had earned his Bachelor's degree in Law

Enforcement from Salve Regina University, and had served our country with honor in the United

States Air Force and later with the Army. As a Green Beret, he served in South America with

Special Operations; and

     WHEREAS, To the very good fortune of the people of Warwick, Michael Babula took

the oath of office to join the Warwick Police Department in December of 1982. For the initial

seven years of his employment, he served as a Patrolman, followed by a promotion to the rank of

Detective. After one year demonstrating tremendous aptitude, he was promoted to Sergeant

supervising in the Patrol and Administrative Services Divisions; and

     WHEREAS, In 1995, then-Sergeant Babula was once again promoted, this time to

Lieutenant working in the Patrol and the Community Services Divisions. In 1998, he was named

Captain and served as the Officer-in-Charge of 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Platoons, Patrol Division and

lastly, the Detective Division, and in 2009, through hard work and diligence, he was promoted to

the rank of Major serving for one year as the Operations Bureau Commander before ultimately

being promoted to Commander (Deputy Chief); and

     WHEREAS, An Officer and a gentleman, Commander Babula was truly dedicated to

serving the people of Warwick and had earned a panoply of honors and commendations

throughout his career. Most notably, he was the recipient of a Medal of Bravery for his heroic

efforts while serving as a Sergeant, during which time he had witnessed a motorcycle/car

accident. While waiting for rescue apparatus and additional units, he approached the person

involved in the accident whose legs were on fire and quickly dragged him to safety. While doing

so, the gas tank on the motorcycle exploded, necessitating the Sergeant to move the rider further

away while putting out the flames on the person using his hand; and

     WHEREAS, In June of 2018, Commander Babula retired after serving thirty-five years of

dedicated and honorable service to the people and the City of Warwick. In his off-duty hours, he

had been an avid reader, scholar of history, accomplished knife maker, and had spent many years

touring the East Coast on his motorcycle with his wife, and enjoying the companionship of his

Golden Retrievers; and

     WHEREAS, Many people will go through their lives without any personal contact with a

potential life or death situation, without a defining moment that turns an ordinary person into a

hero. Commander Babula faced such challenges many times during the course of his career and

there is no doubt that he left this world a far better place because of his life’s endeavors. He was a

friend and mentor to many and he will be dearly missed; now, therefore be it

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

extends deepest condolences on the passing of retired Commander of the Warwick Police

Department, Michael J. Babula; 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 Mrs. Jeanne Babula and Family.

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