Rhode Island HR 7424: HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF RETIRED BRISTOL POLICE CHIEF RUSSELL SERPA

Bill Text

2020 -- H 7424
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LC004352
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF RETIRED BRISTOL POLICE CHIEF
RUSSELL SERPA
Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Donovan, Hull, Johnston, and Canario
Date Introduced: February 04, 2020
Referred To: House read and passed

WHEREAS, Russell “Rusty” Serpa, retired Chief Bristol Police Department, passed 1
away on January 31, 2020. He was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, and was the devoted 2
husband of Lydia for forty-one years, and the son of the late Joseph and Virginia Serpa; and 3
WHEREAS, Russell Serpa was a Sergeant in the United States Army who served our 4
nation with honor from 1965 to 1966 in Vietnam; and 5
WHEREAS, After leaving military service, Chief Serpa joined the Bristol Police 6
Department and served the Town with integrity and distinction for thirty-nine years, including 7
twelve as Police Chief. Amongst his many outstanding achievements as Police Chief, his greatest 8
accomplishment was providing the leadership, direction and supervision that brought the Bristol 9
Police Department in sync with the highest professional standards and obtaining accreditation 10
from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA); and 11
WHEREAS, Chief Serpa attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement and 12
a Master’s degree in Business from Salve Regina College. He also attended the elite FBI National 13
Academy, Command Level Leadership Program in 1989, and the FBI Law Enforcement 14
Executive Development Association; and 15
WHEREAS, Chief Serpa served as the President of the Rhode Island Police Chief’s 16
Association in 2005, and as the President of both the Rhode Island Chapter and New England 17
Chapter of the FBI National Associates. He also served as a board member and President of the 18
Board of Directors for the East Bay Community Development Corporation, was a life member of 19

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the Disabled American Veterans, a social member of the Bristol Fire Department (Hydraulions), a 1
member and past treasurer of the Elks, and, as a golfer, he was a member of the Montaup Country 2
Club; and 3
WHEREAS, In 2005, Chief Serpa had the high honor of being named the 220th Chief 4
Marshal of the Bristol Fourth of July Parade. He was also the Chief Marshal for the Memorial 5
Day Parade and the Bristol Recreation Children’s Parade; and 6
WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Lydia, Chief Serpa leaves behind his sons, Russell 7
Jr., and Christopher and his spouse, Alex, and his two granddaughters, Mila Mae and Rowan 8
Walker Serpa. He also leaves behind his brother, James and his wife, Sylvia, and was preceded in 9
death by his brother, Joseph and sister, Virginia; now, therefore be it 10
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and 11
Providence Plantations hereby expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of retired Bristol 12
Police Chief Russell Serpa; and be it further 13
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 14
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Lydia Serpa and Family. 15
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LC004352
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