| R 337 |
| 2023 -- H 6417 Enacted 05/18/2023 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF MAY 14 THROUGH MAY 20, 2023, TO BE "NATIONAL POLICE WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL THE POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY |
Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Finkelman, Dawson, Costantino, McEntee, and Felix |
| Date Introduced: May 18, 2023 |
| WHEREAS, In 1962, President John Kennedy signed a proclamation declaring May 15th |
| of each year to be National Police Officers Memorial Day and the week in which May 15th falls |
| to be National Police Week. In 1994, President Clinton directed that the United States flag be |
| flown at half-staff every May 15th; and |
| WHEREAS, This year, during the week of May 14 through May 20, Rhode Islanders |
| remember and honor all the brave men and women serving as police and law enforcement |
| officers who through the years have made the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect the public in |
| service to our nation; and |
| WHEREAS, Thus far in 2023, 556 officers have been killed in the line of duty across |
| America; and |
| WHEREAS, Per the FBI data base, 323 police officers were shot in 2022, and 60,105 |
| officers were assaulted while performing their duties. FBI Director Christopher Wray has stated |
| that on average, a law enforcement officer is murdered more often than every five days in the |
| United States; and |
| WHEREAS, According to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), a nonprofit |
| organization that keeps track of all statistics related to law enforcement officers killed in the line |
| of duty, since 1791, there have been 26,291 known line-of-duty deaths, including 54 from the |
| State of Rhode Island; and |
| WHEREAS, Each year during National Police Week, approximately 25,000 to 40,000 |
| attendees congregate in Washington D.C., at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial |
| where they attend vigils and services to honor the memory of all the police and law enforcement |
| officers who have perished in service to our nation; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims May 14 through May 20 of 2023, to be "National Police Week" 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 the resolution to the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, |
| Mr. Patrick Yoes, National President, Fraternal Order of Police, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs |
| Association, and the Rhode Island Troopers Association. |
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| LC002939 |
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