STOW – Police Chief Michael Sallese and Fire Chief Joe Landry are pleased to announce that the Stow Police Department has been awarded a grant by the Commonwealth Security Trust Fund (CSTF) that will enable the Police and Fire Departments to conduct joint training exercises for critical incident response.
The CSTF Grant Program aims to enhance local police and fire departments’ abilities to respond to emergencies, including responses to acts of terrorism.
The $5,000 grant will be used to purchase equipment that will permit develop training simulations focusing on coordination between the members of the Police and Fire Departments during high-stress responses. The Departments have not previously conducted joint training.
The equipment also will expand the Departments’ abilities to respond safely and efficiently to critical or hostile incidents.
“This grant will allow our Departments to train together, which will increase the possibility of a critical incident ending with a positive outcome,” Police Chief Sallese said. “Thank you to Officer Jon Butler and Firefighter Erick Benoit for their hard work on this grant, which will keep our officers and firefighters safer.”
“In a critical incident our first responders may have to enter a dangerous situation alongside law enforcement to evacuate victims and care for the injured. This training can only be a benefit,” Fire Chief Landry said. “Thank you to the Baker-Polito Administration, Commonwealth Security Trust Fund, and Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research for providing this grant.”
A total of $345,337.95 in funding was distributed among 40 communities. Funding can be used for equipment, technology, training or planning. The grants are administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s (EOPSS) Office of Grants & Research (OGR).