2023 -- H 6265 ======== LC002636 ======== 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. 2023 ____________ H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N HONORING NEWPORT PATROLMAN MARK LUBIN FOR SAVING A PERSON FROM COMMITTING SUICIDE ON THE NEWPORT PELL BRIDGE Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Abney, Solomon, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Kennedy, Edwards, Ajello, and Tanzi Date Introduced: April 06, 2023 Referred To: House read and passed WHEREAS, Newport Police Department Patrolman Mark Lubin, a 2015 graduate of the 1 Roger Williams University’s Criminal Justice program, and a six-year veteran of the Newport 2 Police Department, was working his usual shift when he received an urgent call from another 3 police department warning of a possible suicidal person near the Newport Pell Bridge; and 4 WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, Officer Lubin spotted the person, who was racing 5 towards the bridge in his car at high speed. On the bridge, the driver stopped his car, ran to the 6 side of the bridge and lifted his leg over the railing to jump. In response, Officer Lubin jumped 7 out of his car and ran toward the man, pleading with him not to jump. A tense standoff ensued 8 with Officer Lubin attempting to pull the distraught man off the bridge, with the man pleading to 9 be left alone; and 10 WHEREAS, The standoff became a wrestling match on the railing of the bridge until 11 backup arrived. Thankfully, officers were able to pull the man off the bridge and save his life; and 12 WHEREAS, Officer Lubin talked extensively with the depressed gentleman at the 13 hospital and had great empathy for him. Officer Lubin stated that he learned to have great 14 patience while dealing with those struggling with mental and behavioral health issues in part due 15 to his brother’s struggles with autism and being nonverbal; and 16 WHEREAS, According to Captain Kevin Moreira, Patrol Commander, one in five calls 17 to the Newport Police Department relates to a mental or behavioral health issue, with this statistic 18 aligning with data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which 19 LC002636 - Page 2 of 2 shows that one in five people suffer from a substance use or mental health disorder, and only one 1 in four of those people get professional help; now, therefore be it 2 RESOLVED, That this House of representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 3 honors and thanks Newport Police Department Patrolman Mark Lubin for his heroic actions that 4 saved the life of a man on the Newport Pell Bridge, and be it further 5 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 6 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Newport Patrolman, Mark Lubin. 7 ======== LC002636 ========