R 296
2025 -- H 6330
Enacted 05/13/2025

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N
COMMEMORATING MAY 11 THROUGH MAY 17, 2025, 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 Read, Hull, Fascia, Noret, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Paplauskas, Corvese, and Craven

Date Introduced: May 13, 2025

     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 11 through May 17, 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. In 2023, 164 police officers died in the line of duty across America; and
     WHEREAS, According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, 342 police officers
were shot in 2023, and according to the FBI, 43,469 police officers were assaulted while
performing their duties. Former 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 26,921 known line-of-duty deaths, including 54 from the
State of Rhode Island; and
     WHEREAS, Each year during National Police Week, approximately 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
commemorates May 11 through May 17 of 2025, 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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LC002494
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