The Rhode Island Tactical Officers Association (RITOA)

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Rhode Island SWAT Certification »
Posted on: 2009 Oct 18

As many of you know, RI SWAT standards have been adopted by the RI Police Officers Commission on Standards and Training (POST) and RITOA have been delegated to conduct the assessment program. Many people assisted in the development of the standards, and they will be formally and gratefully recognized in a future RITOA Newsletter. Rhode Island is only the second state in the country to establish standards for SWAT/Tactical Teams. California was the first. FYI, the following teams are now certified by POST:

  • Charlestown/Hopkinton PD Regional ESU
  • Cranston PD SRT
  • East Providence PD SRT
  • Newport PD SRT
  • Pawtucket PD SRT
  • Warwick PD SWAT
  • West Warwick/Coventry PD Regional SWAT

The following teams have applied for certification and will soon be assessed:

  • Johnston PD SRT
  • RI Department of Corrections CERT
  • Westerly PD SWAT
  • Woonsocket PD SRT

RITOA encourages the following teams to apply in the future:

  • Burrillville PD SRT
  • East Greenwich PD SRT
  • Providence PD SRU
  • RI State Police Tactical Team
  • South Kingston PD ESU

Should any team require information pertaining to the certification process, please contact POST or RITOA. Lt. Tom Hannon, RITOA Assessment Chairman, is available to visit your agency and guide you through the requirements. He can be reached at Warwick PD HQ’s.

Additionally, RITOA has a Tactical Manual that can serve as a documentation guide. For a free copy, contact Insp. Mathiesen at Warwick PD (468-4331). Please note: For security purposes, the Tactical Manual is a controlled item and must be signed for.