Magaziner Delivers Funding for West Warwick Police Department

WEST WARWICK, RI - Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) joined West Warwick Town Manager Mark Knott, Chief of Police Colonel Ernest Lavigne, and other local leaders to announce $791,000 of federal funding he secured for the West Warwick Police Department to purchase new vehicles for its emergency response fleet.

View or download photos from the event here.

View or download full remarks from the event here.

"Public safety is the foundation of any great neighborhood," said Magaziner. "I am proud to deliver $791,000 of federal funding for the West Warwick police department to modernize its fleet, improve response times, and help keep more Rhode Islanders safe."

"West Warwick thanks Representative Magaziner and his team for their diligent efforts in securing a substantial grant that will clearly enhance our public safety response abilities, make the challenging duties of our first responders safer and more efficient, and foster a safer community for all," said Warwick Town Manager Mark Knott.

"On behalf of the men and women of the West Warwick Police Department, I would like to sincerely thank U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner for his continued support of public safety in our community and for securing critical federal grant funding for the Town of West Warwick. This funding will allow us to modernize and strengthen our emergency response capabilities with essential tools that will directly improve the safety of our officers, first responders, and the residents we proudly serve every day," said West Warwick Chief of Police Colonel Ernest Lavigne.

The funding will be used to expand the West Warwick Police Department's fleet with modern, fully-equipped vehicles.

The grant will support the purchase and outfitting of five new marked emergency response vehicles to replace aging cruisers. These new vehicles serve as an essential tool in the West Warwick Police Department's ability to deliver quick response times.

The funding will also be used to acquire and outfit two specialized first responder cargo vans equipped with advanced communication and tactical equipment. The vehicles will serve the joint West Warwick/Coventry Regional S.W.A.T. Team and provide critical support for incident command operations, crisis negotiations, criminal investigations, and personnel safety. The addition of these vehicles will ensure that both the Police Department and Emergency Management partners can rapidly deploy essential support equipment during critical incidents, natural disasters, and crime scene investigations.

Lastly, the funding will support the purchase of all-terrain vehicles to allow the West Warwick Police Department to respond to emergencies in hard-to-reach locations, including near the Pawtuxet River.