=====
PD123
=====

WHEREAS, A distinguished member of the United States Air Force, Roger P. Tardie enlisted in June 1963 and earned his Honorable Discharge four years later, leaving the service with the rank of Tech Sergeant. He joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in March 1968; and

WHEREAS, Beginning his career with the Bureau at its Washington, D.C. Head Quarters, Roger Tardie transferred to the F.B.I. Office in Atlanta, Georgia, in April 1971 and served there until July 1973, when he was assigned to the Bureau's Boston Division. He worked in the Providence Resident Agency of the F.B.I. on a special assignment from April 1975 until being permanently assigned to Providence in August 1978; and

WHEREAS, Special Agent Tardie was sent to the Ocean State to investigate sensitive large-scale bank fraud in Rhode Island, where several banks were being victimized by the President of a multi-corporate structure. In February 1976, said individual was convicted and sentenced to more than seven years of confinement, and several of the affected institutions received restitution for their losses; and

WHEREAS, In May 1976, Special Agent Tardie was placed in charge, by then United States Attorney Lincoln Almond, of a 13 state investigation involving an ongoing Government fraud being perpetrated by a Rhode Island based correspondence school. By March 1979, the correspondence school's corporate structure, including subsidiaries, had been closed forever with corporate convictions and restitution exceeding 21 million dollars. This successful operation prevented a potential economic loss of 2.4 billion dollars and helped to bring about new Federal legislation tightening controls on correspondence schools nationwide; and

WHEREAS, From August 1978 to November 1993, Special Agent Roger P. Tardie successfully investigated several very large complicated bank frauds, participated in numerous investigations involving Organized Crime members, was the Co-Case Agent on two of the largest money laundering investigations in New England known as the "Christopher Murray" and "Stephen Saccocia" cases, significantly contributed in the identification of the kidnapper of "Baby Kayla", which led to the successful return of the infant victim, and was assigned as Special Agent Coordinator and Liaison Agent on all Rhode Island Financial Institution Fraud matters; and

WHEREAS, Special Agent Tardie was promoted to the position of F.B.I. Boston Division Informant Coordinator and Undercover Operations Coordinator in November 1993, a position in which he provided distinguished service until retiring from the Bureau on December 31, 1996 after more than 28 years of superb service; and

WHEREAS, Roger Tardie is the only F.B.I. agent who successfully chartered an F.O.P. (Fraternal Order of Police) Lodge (Lodge 46-Rhode Island) comprised of Federal Criminal Investigators. He was the first and only F.O.P. Lodge President from the F.B.I. and becomes the first F.B.I. F.O.P. Lodge President to retire from active services. He also served as F.B.I. Agency President and National Treasurer for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (F.L.E.O.A.) from 1990-1993, and sat on the National Executive Board of the International Police Officers Association (I.P.A.) from 1990 to 1995; now; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes the sterling career of Special Agent Roger P. Tardie and congratulates him on his retirement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation after more than 28 years of dedicated, professional service. This Senate commends Special Agent Tardie for his myriad accomplishments and wishes him continued happiness, success and fulfillment in all future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to retiring F.B.I. Special Agent Roger P. Tardie.