2025 -- S 1029

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING BURRILLVILLE POLICE CHIEF COLONEL STEPHEN J. LYNCH

UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE RHODE ISLAND CRIMINAL JUSTICE HALL OF

FAME

     Introduced By: Senators Dimitri, de la Cruz, Tikoian, Gu, Sosnowski, Raptakis,
DiPalma, Murray, Rogers, and Paolino

     Date Introduced: May 07, 2025

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Established in 2012, the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame honors

the dedicated and distinguished criminal justice professionals in Rhode Island who have

performed in exemplary fashion in their duties and responsibilities to improve and uphold the

principles of criminal justice in Rhode Island. One such distinguished honoree is Stephen J.

Lynch; and

     WHEREAS, Burrillville Police Chief, Colonel Stephen Lynch, is a Smithfield native. He

attended Rhode Island College where he attained a bachelor’s degree in 1982 and was an

outstanding athlete who starred as a goaltender on the soccer team that resulted in his induction

into the Rhode Island College Athletic Hall of Fame. Chief Lynch also was named to the Rhode

Island College’s All-75th Anniversary Men’s Soccer Team in 2005. Chief Lynch received the

Rhode Island College Social Work Alumni Honor Roll Award in 2006, and in 2014, he received

the college’s Athletic Alumnus Award; and

     WHEREAS, Chief Lynch graduated from the Rhode Island State Police Academy in

1986, and shortly thereafter assumed the duties of a Rhode Island State Trooper. Chief Lynch

began his distinguished law enforcement career with the uniform division of the Rhode Island

State Police, before transferring to the Detective Division in 1991, where he held various

positions including serving as the Officer in Charge of Major Crimes; and

     WHEREAS, Thanks to Chief Lynch’s tireless work ethic, abiding integrity, and

outstanding leadership qualities, he quickly rose through the ranks. He was promoted to the rank

of Detective Sergeant, where he founded the Violent Fugitive Task Force, maintained Rhode

Island’s Ten Most Wanted list, served as the Interpol liaison for Rhode Island, served as a

Witness Protection Board Member, and served as the division’s Detective Commander for five

years; and

     WHEREAS, Chief Lynch was soon promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain and

finally Major before he retired from the Rhode Island State Police in 2008. Chief Lynch received

30 departmental commendations throughout his exemplary career with the Rhode Island State

Police, including the State Police Service Ribbon and Lifesaver Award in 2006. In 2012, Chief

Lynch received the Neil Houston Award from the Rhode Island State Police in honor and

recognition of his career efforts; and

     WHEREAS, Following his retirement from the Rhode Island State Police, Chief Lynch

worked as an Assistant Athletic Director for Brown University, as well as serving on the

Department of Public Safety Oversight Board, and advised students in disciplinary hearings; and

     WHEREAS, In 2013, Stephen Lynch was appointed to serve as the Police Chief of the

Burrillville Police Department and focused most of his energy on community driven initiatives.

Early in his tenure, when Chief Lynch was faced with a surge in overdose deaths, he met the

challenge head on, through the formation of the Burrillville Addiction Assistance Program and

the Burrillville Prevention Action Coalition in 2017. For his efforts and success in fighting

addiction in Burrillville, Chief Lynch was recognized by the national nonprofit Police Assisted

Addiction & Recovery Initiative; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby heartily congratulates

Burrillville Police Chief Stephen J. Lynch upon his induction into the Rhode Island Criminal

Justice Hall of Fame; 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 Burrillville Police Chief, Stephen J. Lynch.

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