Cranston communities rattled by “non-stop gunfire” from police training center (VIDEO)

Photo: RI State Police Chiefs Association

Neighbors in the vicinity of the Cranston Police Academy Training Center are raising alarm at what has become, they say, nearly non-stop sounds of automatic weapons firing and echoing into their homes, and in constant earshot of the students at Cranston West.

The Training Center has been doing weapons training at this location for many years, but what was once a few hours, a few days a week by one department is now reaping success by its use by other cities and towns, the State Police and even the FBI, according to sources.

Weapons training is no longer restricted to handguns, but has naturally evolved to include automatic, rapid-fire firearms, as departments train to keep up with what is on the streets, and what is needed to defend and protect.

In response to neighbors’ requests, the Cranston Police posted their “shooting schedule” – even though it lists a Monday through Friday schedule ending at 4:30pm, some neighbors claim it is 7 days a week, going as late as 9pm. Other neighbors have said that the police provided this so neighbors who are bothered by the noise can plan to not be home.

The police have told one resident that they go into the schools and talk about the difference between “good” and “bad” gunfire so the children in the area are aware of the training happening that they can hear while in school and outside of the school.

This video shows nighttime – 6 pm – at a home in Meshanticut.

Sound baffles were installed in 2018 at the Academy. But the quantity of departments now using the facility and the congested time frame of firearms certification has exacerbated the problem for the community. Funds used from rentals and use of the Academy are used to develop the facility making it a one of a kind location for law enforcement training.

This video was sent to us by a nearby Cranston resident taking a walk down her street:

To view more videos a resident is sharing her Google drive file: bit.ly/gunfire-at-cranston-schools

We reached out to Mayor Hopkins about this issue and he said that he has met with Colonnel Winquist, Chief of the Cranston Police, and they “have a plan in place to secure and enclose the facility” and have applied for a Federal grant to soundproof the building, and enclose the facility.

On Monday there will be a special meeting of the Cranston City Council and this issue has been placed on the agenda. A resident involved said they expect a sizeable turnout from the community.

Residents are circulating this notice for the meeting:

The Special Cranston City Council meeting is set for 6 to 6:30pm on Monday, Sept. 12th – but the agenda is lengthy with the Academy issue #5 on a long docket. The meeting can be viewed on ZOOM – notice… HERE.

This is a developing story and has been updated.