Page 2 - French and Electric Blue - Winter 2017-2018

83rd RTT - Character, confidence, and competency
By Trooper Sean Readon
On August 14, 2017, 240 Trainees began
their Day One experience as members of the 83
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Recruit Training Troop. Trainees were met by a
highly motivated and professional Drill Staff led
by Sergeant Donna Losardo and Trooper David
Pinkham. The experience of the two veteran Drill
Instructors has created an environment where
discipline and attention to detail is ever present.
The operational tempo of the Academy is fast, and
many who were not prepared for the demands of
the rigorous training program resigned.
The 83 RTT, like the many RTTs before
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it, was comprised of trainees with varying
backgrounds and experience. The class contained
many former municipal, campus, and state police
officers. Five members of the RTT came from
bordering state police agencies, four came from
Rhode Island, and one from Vermont. There
were seven trainees who previously trained at
the Academy as members of an SPMA or SSPO
Academy. The 83 RTT also had numerous
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current and former members of the armed
services. Combined, the trainees represented more
than 219 years of military service.
In October and November, the trainees
were brought through the “Round Robin” phase
where they were sent to varying disciplines in
small groups to master skills such as Firearms,
French·and·Electric·Blue·Winter·2017/2018·page·2
emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics,
patrol procedures and first responder training. All
members of the 83 RTT successfully passed their
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Round Robin testing and assessments.
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The 83 RTT received outstanding
instruction from the Academy Staff and adjunct
instructors who supplement the Academy Staff.
The core curriculum was taught by subject matter
experts who brought a wealth of knowledge and
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experience to the 83 RTT. We were fortunate
to have instructors such as Sergeants Larry Kiley
and Eric Bernstein (Motor Vehicle Law), Attorney
John Scheft of Law Enforcement Dimensions
(Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure), and
Sergeant Mark Courtois, Troopers Kevin Kennedy,
Brian Frechette, Sean Barry, Stephen McKay, and
Jonathan Spencer (Patrol Procedures).
Beginning December 19, the 83 RTT
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began scenario based training during four weeks
of Applied Patrol Procedures. During APP,
trainees participated in more than 60 scenarios
and applied lessons learned in the classroom to
realistic problem solving exercises. The Division
of Field Services provided veteran members
to act as Field Training Officers as the trainees
responded to scenarios situated throughout
the Academy compound. Sworn and civilian