Learning about the police, from the police

By Ethan Hartley
Posted 10/2/18

By ETHAN HARTLEY With pencils sharpened and minds open, a new class of 27 individuals looking to gain more perspective into the responsibilities of local law enforcement got their introductory lessons as the 31st session of the Warwick Citizens' Police

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Learning about the police, from the police

Posted

With pencils sharpened and minds open, a new class of 27 individuals looking to gain more perspective into the responsibilities of local law enforcement got their introductory lessons as the 31st session of the Warwick Citizens’ Police Academy commenced last Thursday, Sept. 27 at Warwick Police Headquarters.

“The tools that you will learn here are very important to the community,” said Mayor Joseph Solomon in his introductory talk to the class, prior to introducing members of the Warwick Police Department.

Deputy Chief Brad Connor, filling in for Colonel Stephen McCartney who was out of the country for a wedding, introduced the class to Community Police officer and Citizens’ Police Academy Coordinator Daniel Maggiacomo.

“Every family or organization has that one member that is the glue that holds it all together,” Connor said, as Maggiacomo smirked, apparently knowing that a playful jab was incoming. “Well Dan is the hair gel that keeps this department together.”

Hair impeccably groomed, possibly with gel, Maggiacomo set the tone of what will be 12 weekly meetings of the class by informing the students that they wouldn’t be needing to beef up their torso muscles with push-ups in order to be prepared.

“It’s not that type of class,” he said. “My job is to overload you with as much police information as possible.”

What makes the Warwick Citizens’ Police Academy unique – in addition to its offerings such as a trip to the shooting range, the chance to become CPR certified, a day learning about women’s involvement within the department and the opportunity to drive a police car on the training track at high pursuit speeds – is how that aforementioned police information includes the full spectrum; the good, the bad and the ugly.

“This is a difficult job to do and not everyone is cut out to do it,” said Maggiacomo after reporting to the class there are anywhere between 700,000 and 800,000 police officers active in the country every day. He stressed that not every cop will do the right thing all the time, but that he has seen over his 17-year career that the Warwick Police Department takes its mission statement to heart and has a wealth of truly talented and kindhearted officers among its ranks.

Maggiacomo also opened up a little about his past and personal life, sharing how his first job ironically enough was as a baker where he baked bread and donuts – though he clarified this fact did not factor into his decision to become a police officer. In addition to community policing, Maggiacomo has been a longtime member of the S.W.A.T. team and helps train officers at the municipal police academy.

“I got to have my first taste of being an instructor, of being a teacher,” he said, recalling his first year working at the academy around 2010. “That was probably the most rewarding part of my career so far.”

Each member of the class was given the opportunity to introduce themselves and give some insight as to why they signed up for the experience, in addition to any good or bad interactions they have had with police personnel in the past. Most attendees were either Warwick natives or have moved to Warwick from elsewhere, such as Connecticut, New Jersey and one couple originally from Liberia, Africa.

Interests ranged across the board, but the majority of participants simply wanted to gain more insight into what police officers do and how they make decisions and are trained to make those decisions. One woman, who teaches at a behavioral school in Pawtucket, said she wanted to be able to share what she learns in the class with her students to help some anti-police attitudes students may have.

“By the end of this class, you’re going to understand police work better,” Maggiacomo promised, prior to taking the class on a lectured history of the Warwick Police Department.

However, there was one crucial question that one participant needed answering before the lesson could proceed.

“Are you going to bake for us at the end of the class?” the woman asked, with much laughter then filling the room.

Comments

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  • Justanidiot

    The students of color were held after class for being "disruptive".

    Tuesday, October 2, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Justanidiot,

    My old friend, I have read you make this kind of comment before and I have to challenge you on it. Aren't we ALL "people-of-color"? Is there any ONE person that is black or white? Aren't we ALL variations of the color brown, some darker, some lighter, but ALL some version of the color brown?

    We are old friend. Therein lies our equality. As far as being "disruptive" you should ask my high school teachers. On second thought, maybe not.

    Happy Autumn everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    Tuesday, October 2, 2018 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    spoken like a true blue white man who has never been discriminated against. and whys do you hate fall?

    Tuesday, October 2, 2018 Report this