At a special ceremony in the City Council chambers this evening, Providence Police Officer Jose Deschamps was honored with the Council’s Municipal Medal for Deeds of Bravery. An ordinance was introduced by Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr, (Ward 4) and Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) at the September 3 Council meeting to recognize Officer Deschamps for his exemplary conduct in the line of duty.

On August 13, Officer Jose Deschamps was responding to a motor vehicle incident at the intersection of Narragansett Avenue and New York Avenue. After arriving on the scene, Officer Deschamps was approached by a man seeking assistance with an unresponsive child and provided lifesaving CPR, which helped stabilize the 8-month-old boy.

“The Municipal Medal for Deeds of Bravery was created to honor City Officers, Employees or any deserving individual for preforming an act of bravery and valor. Officer Deschamps’ actions on August 13 to save the life of an infant boy displayed this bravery and valor for which the City of Providence is incredibly grateful,” stated Council President Sabina Matos.

This award was codified into the Providence City Charter in 1915 and since then, the medal has only been bestowed twice in documented City history. The first was to Patrolman John Kelly who saved a 10-year-old boy from drowning in 1918 and the second was to a group of firemen who saved a seven-month-old girl who stopped breathing in 2016.

The medal was hand crafted by Olneyville artist Kiki Scuillo and features the City Council seal representing industry, watchfulness and peace as well as a commemorative seal of honor and heroism.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. shared, “Officer Deschamps is a shining example of the good work that our dedicated men and women in uniform do every day in our City. Officer Deschamps saved that baby boy and saved an entire family from a tragic loss. I hope that this recognition will serve as a reminder of how important and vital our men and women of the Providence Police Department are to the fabric of our City. We are incredibly grateful to Officer Deschamps for his honorable, brave actions”.