The New England Institute of Technology’s criminal justice facility has gotten its first semester off to a running start. The college housed a four-day Command Staff training program for the Warwick Police Department last week.

“I’m overwhelmed at your generosity,” Police Chief Col. Stephen McCartney said of the use of NEIT facilities.

The training was designed to teach new captains and lieutenants about vital issues such as: intelligence networks, child investigations and strategic communication.

“Because of reorganizations, a training for new officers had to be conducted and this was more economical,” said Lieutenant Joseph Coffey.

Molding together different generations in leadership roles makes it imperative that officers maintain effective communication skills throughout the chain of command.

“There are a lot of changes in law enforcement with how you effectively lead,” said Coffey.

While this was the first time the police department had conducted their own in-house training, Coffey said the opportunity to use the new facility was great.

“We wanted to select and go after innovative local leaders that are active within law enforcement,” said Coffey.

The police department wanted to tailor the curriculum to fit local leadership challenges and expectations. The ability to bring in officers from Cranston and East Greenwich allows the police department a broader insight into their own community and surrounding areas.

“We’re sharing information. It’s not just leadership 101, it is what other people have done in their agencies,” said Coffey.

Coffey notes that the equipment and training structures available through the school are something the department would never be able to afford.

“Training always takes a hit in the budget and this was a more economical way to carry it out,” said Coffey.

The school offers a full forensics lab, a mock courtroom and a firearms lab. Opened only nine weeks ago, the 53 students currently enrolled are on the fast track to a job in criminal justice.

“We have civilian and law enforcement experts that we can offer to the school so we have a kind of reciprocal necessity with the college,” said Coffey.

He went on to say that the police force cannot construct a good program without academia.

During the 18-month program students will have their own case to track from beginning to end. The Criminal Justice Portfolio is a life-like investigative assignment starting with the commission of a mock crime event, gathering of victim and witness statements, processing a crime scene and collection of evidence. This realistic process will culminate with the presentation of testimony in a Moot Court/Mock Trial scenario during which the student will present a portfolio that has been constructed and maintained by the student during the entire investigative process.

“We are getting continuous ideas from the technical advisory committee to coordinate and develop programs to mirror what students will face in the real world,” said Ray Angell, department chair of the criminal justice program.

Angell believes this will help students applying for jobs in the industry because they will have had actual hands-on experience.

“Knowing that they [recruits] were participating here is a big plus,” said Coffey.

All the criminal justice professors are either retired or current law enforcement officials. Students will be exposed to various specialized disciplines under the Criminal Justice umbrella and will gain valuable hands-on experience in a variety of topics, including financial and cyber crimes; police operations and report writing; criminal procedure; forensic science; firearm skills; drugs; and terrorism, gang and organized crime issues.

Angell said that other departments are already calling to ask when they can come to use the facility.

“It is really a testament to their leadership that the Warwick Police Department has already taken on a training class here,” said Angell.