Congratulating, Honoring, and Thanking Warwick Police Captain Charles Boisseau for Saving the Lives of a Cranston Family After Their House Caught Fire on the Night of July 5, 2025

WHEREAS, Warwick Police Captain Charles Boisseau is a dedicated public servant who has spent most of his professional life in service to our nation, the State of Rhode Island and the City of Warwick. Mr. Boisseau holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University; and

WHEREAS, Charles Boisseau served our nation with distinction and honor as a Combat Medic in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserve. He deployed multiple times and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Medical Badge for his heroic actions while deployed in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Captain Boisseau is a 30-year veteran of the Warwick Police Department who previously served as a Correctional Officer with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Within the Warwick Police Department, Captain Boisseau has held positions in the Patrol Division, the Traffic Division, and has served as a Patrol Supervisor for the past 12 years; and

WHEREAS, On the night of July 5, 2025, at approximately 11:15 p.m., Captain Charles Boisseau was heading home after finishing a detail when he noticed a fire burning in a trash can in front of a house on Whispering Pines Drive. Captain Boisseau immediately responded by exiting his vehicle, calling 911, and banging on the front door of the house to alert the occupants, who were asleep at the time. After receiving no response, Captain Boisseau searched for a hose to douse the growing flames. After contacting the homeowner, both attempted to put out the fire; however, the water pressure from the hose proved insufficient to extinguish it. When the fire began to spread to the garage and house, Captain Boisseau called 911 a second time and then re- entered the house with the homeowner to rescue the homeowner's wife and three small children, aged 7, 5,; and months. All were safely rescued without injury; and

WHEREAS, The Cranston Fire Department responded swiftly, extinguished the fire and determined that the fire was caused by used fireworks that were improperly discarded. Thanks to the bravery of Captain Boisseau, no one was hurt. In the words of Cranston Police Chief Michael J. Winquist, praising Captain Boisseau, "Had it not been for his immediate actions, the outcome could have been tragic. We commend his bravery and selflessness in risking his safety to save others."; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby honors, congratulates, and thanks Warwick Police Captain Charles Boisseau for saving the lives of a Cranston family after their house caught fire on the night of July 5, 2025; 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 Warwick Police Captain, Charles Boisseau.