Page 10 - French and Electric Blue - Winter 2017-2018

P.A.C.E. Training Yields Immediate
Dividends in Troop C
By Captain Robert Johnson
The Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement
Training Program (PACE) was launched in 2001.
Originally titled “ACE” (Aggressive Criminal
Enforcement), the program was created by a few
motivated Troopers who felt that there was a void
in criminal interdiction training in Massachusetts.
The mission of the PACE instructors is to
teach veteran law enforcement officers to tap into
their natural abilities
to detect criminal
behavior and to take
their investigations to a
higher level. At its core,
PACE seeks to enhance
the officer’s ability to
recognize and act upon
observed patterns of
criminal behavior, and
to develop the skills to
properly articulate their
observations and actions
in order to secure solid Evidence from traffic stop seized by Trooper Ali Rei defendant made an
convictions. Officers are
also trained to recognize electronic, hydraulic, and slowed quickly, and began to tailgate another
other technical means used to hide contraband
in motor vehicles and in residences. Since its
inception, more than 1,000 police officers and
other law enforcement personnel have attended
the training.
One goal of PACE is to provide a flexible,
adaptive system of instruction that can help law
enforcement officers stay current with the ever-
evolving techniques and activities employed by
criminals. To this end, PACE course material is
continually reviewed and upgraded each year.
Instructors rely on participant evaluations and
invite the best of the best to contribute to the effort
to constantly improve their presentations.
Although PACE is primarily about criminal
interdiction, several related topics are also covered
F r en c h·a n d·E le c t r ic·B l ue·W in t er·2017/2018·p a g e·10
in an effort to aid officers in their careers. The
most recent class was conducted at the Sturbridge
Host Hotel in mid-September. The class was
attended by approximately 180 state and local
police officers from across New England, including
nine MSP Troopers assigned to Troop C. At least
three of these C Troopers had noteworthy arrests
within a few weeks of completing the course.
On September
19, just a few days
after attending her
first PACE Seminar,
Trooper Ali Rei (80
th
RTT/SP-Holden) made
a notable trafficking
arrest. She was on patrol
on Route 190 in Sterling
and observed a motor
vehicle committing
civil infractions. Upon
noticing her, the
abrupt lane change,
vehicle. Rei began to notice indicators consistent
with her recent PACE Training. As the stop
progressed, more criminal indicators became
apparent. Seemingly innocuous occurrences to
the layman were red flags to a Trooper with fresh
skills acquired from PACE. Trooper Rei, following
her training, was able to locate 4.3 ounces of
marijuana, 21 pills identified as Promethazine, 60
pills identified as Clonazepam and approximately
28 grams of cocaine. Ultimately the stop netted
four arrests, with all subjects facing myriad
charges, including trafficking in cocaine,
distribution of Classes C, D and E narcotics,
possession of Class B, and conspiracy to violate
drug laws.
When asked to provide a testimonial