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Cranston Police: No Intention of Relocating Training; Officials Dispute Alternate Site Claims
In a 4-hour meeting of the Cranston Ordinance Committee held in January of this year the committee declined to consider a resolution regarding changes to the Cranston Police Department Shooting Range. The Police Chief noted the changes that have been made, including modifications to the range, use of suppressors, and no longer having the RI Municipal Police Training Academy train at their location. The schedule of the range’s use is posted on the Cranston Police Department’s website.
After that meeting, action on the 5-year campaign by “a handful of residents”, as described by Col. Winquist ended with the Colonel saying he would be willing to continue to talk about the gun range, and in a perfect world there would be $5 Million to enclose the range, though he cautioned that that would not eliminate all noise.
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About a month later, on Thursday, February 26th, an “open letter” was published in the Cranston Herald to Mayor Hopkins noting that “there’s a solution on the table that can be implemented tomorrow”. The published letter to the editor noted that Rep. Brandon Potter had taken action to obtain permission for Cranston to use the Providence PD range in Scituate. Here is that public open letter:
We followed up on the issue by communicating with Colonel Winquist, Rep. Potter, Mayor Smiley and Mayor Hopkins.
Colonel Winquist’s statement:
Col. Michael Winquist, Chief, Cranston Police Dept.
“I have never had a conversation with him about going to Scituate or anything related to the range.
First, Ms. DiMeo continues to advance the nonsensical theory that students attending school near our range are somehow desensitized to gunfire and therefore would not react appropriately in an active shooter situation. That assertion is simply not credible. The sound of gunfire in close proximity is unmistakable and dramatically different from the controlled, predictable sound of training rounds discharged at a police range—particularly one the community knows exists.
Had any Cranston students or residents been present at Lynch Arena during the tragic incident in Pawtucket, they would have responded exactly as others did—by immediately taking protective action and evacuating as quickly and safely as possible. It is also important to note that although the shooter in that incident was ultimately determined to be deceased, Cranston officers responded without hesitation to provide mutual aid alongside numerous surrounding departments. Their swift, professional response is a direct result of the essential, ongoing training conducted at our department’s range.
With respect to Mr. Potter’s claim that the Providence Police Department granted permission for Cranston officers to use its range, that statement is unequivocally false. I personally spoke with Colonel Oscar Perez, who made clear that accommodating our department would not be possible. Providence has more than 400 officers who must qualify twice annually, in addition to rifle teams, SWAT personnel, and outside agencies that already rely on their facility. There is simply not enough availability to absorb our 153 officers and tactical team, which trains twice per month. Colonel Perez further stated that he had never received such a request from Mr. Potter or anyone else, and that if Mr. Potter made a request to Mayor Brett Smiley he would have been contacted directly.
At no time did we ask Mr. Potter to seek permission to use Providence’s range. When he publicly stated at a Cranston City Council meeting that he had secured such permission, I had already spoken with Colonel Perez. I asked Mr. Potter to identify whom he contacted, and no answer was provided.
I have no intention of relocating our training facility to another municipality. Doing so would create significant logistical challenges and unnecessary expense. Our training model frequently integrates classroom instruction with practical range exercises conducted the same day. The Providence facility does not offer classroom space to support that approach. We are fortunate to have one of the finest police training ranges available. It is a critical asset that ensures Cranston police officers are fully prepared for worst-case scenarios—situations that, regrettably, our state has recently experienced.
Statement of Rep. Potter:Â
Rep. Brandon Potter, Cranston D-16
“I spoke to Mayor Smiley in the fall and explained the situation, the range’s proximity to Cranston High School West and Western Hills Middle School, and the pleadings from the local community. He was very sympathetic, understandably so, and graciously offered to instruct Chief Perez to allow Cranston PD to use the Providence Police range in Scituate as needed. Shortly thereafter, Colonel Winquist indicated the offer had been extended but publicly stated the Cranston PD would not take up the opportunity because “they can’t just pack up and go.†It was only in a later City Council hearing when he then claimed Chief Perez told him Providence could not accommodate Cranston officers at the Scituate range, which unfortunately follows a long pattern of inconsistent statements the Colonel and Administration have made regarding this issue.”
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Statement from Providence Police Department/Mayor Smiley:
We asked both the Providence Police Chief Perez and Mayor Brett Smiley’s offices to confirm this information. We received this statement:
“We don’t have a record of the permission being granted. It would be helpful to know who he spoke with but I’m not coming up with anything here.” – Kristy DosReis
Mayor Smiley‘s office referred us to DosReis for the above comment. Mayor Hopkins‘ office did not respond. The Cranston Herald publishes on Thursday and if there is a response to the “Open Letter” we will update our story with that statement.
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UPDATED: Statement of Mayor Hopkins:Â
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Latest background on the police training range.
Bill Bartholomew, who does a podcast, “Bartholomewtown” conducted an interview with the Colonel: