| R 129 |
| 2017 -- H 5963 Enacted 03/21/2017 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MARCH 17, 2017 TO BE "LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
| Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Morin, Casey, Johnston, and Jacquard |
| Date Introduced: March 21, 2017 |
| WHEREAS, On every day of the year, law enforcement officers and fire service |
| department professionals work diligently and tirelessly to protect the people and property in |
| Rhode Island; and |
| WHEREAS, These dedicated individuals undergo rigorous training and extensively study |
| safety and protection issues in order to best serve the residents of our great state. Their |
| responsibilities require an abundance of physical strength, courage, and stamina, and an abiding |
| and selfless concern for the safety of others; and |
| WHEREAS, Our law enforcement officers and fire department personnel protect our |
| schools, public meeting places, our homes and our physical safety twenty-four hours a day, every |
| day of the year. It is because of them that we are able to go about our daily lives with a reasonable |
| expectation of being safe and secure; and |
| WHEREAS, All too often, these devoted public service heroes pay the ultimate price in |
| order to protect us from dangerous and hazardous situations. These dedicated servants always |
| answer the call and always come to the aid of those in need, regardless of the dangers they face or |
| the possible consequences they may endure; and |
| WHEREAS, There are more than 900,000 men and women serving in law enforcement |
| agencies across the United States. Over the past ten years, approximately 1,500 have lost their |
| lives in the line of duty. Law enforcement officers have also been the victim of approximately |
| 580,000 assaults over the past ten years and suffered more than 156,000 injuries during that same |
| period. In 2016, 144 law enforcement officers were killed in on-duty incidents; and |
| WHEREAS, There are approximately 1,140,750 firefighters currently serving in the |
| United States. Over the past ten years, 965 of these first responders perished in the line of duty |
| and approximately 800,000 were injured while responding to emergency calls for assistance. In |
| 2015, 85 fire service personnel were killed in on-duty incidents; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
| Providence Plantations hereby proclaims March 17, 2017, to be "Law Enforcement and Fire |
| Service Department Day" in the State of Rhode Island. We furthermore thank the members of this |
| "fraternity" for their tireless, diligent and valorous service on every day to the citizens 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 Paul Reed, President of the Rhode Island |
| Association of Fire Fighters, Chief Dean Hoxsie, President, Rhode Island Police Chiefs' |
| Association, Colonel Ann Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Bob |
| Sweeney, President, RES Associates. |
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| LC002219 |
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