Neighbors Decry “War Zone” Noise Level of Cranston Police Gun Range Near Homes and Schools
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
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The gun range is just hundreds of yards from nearby schools in western Cranston PHOTO: Martha DiMeo/ChromaQueen.com
Homeowners are now banding together to ask the city to take action, after they say the constant barrage of gunfire at the range has become even more noticeable during the pandemic, with more families staying at home.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“It sounds like it’s in a war zone,” said Martha DiMeo, who lives near the police training facility on Phenix Avenue. “In the last few years — it’s gotten louder and more frequent.”
Cranston Police defend the location and usage of the range, which was established in the 1960s. It is located across the street from Western Hills Middle School and Cranston West High School is nearby.
DiMeo is now organizing neighbors to take action, which she said she hopes results in the city taking action — and potentially, moving the range out of the neighborhood.
Impact of Gunfire
DiMeo says her house on Laconia Road has been in her family since 1947.
“It’s the city’s line, that [the range] has always been there,” said DiMeo. “It used to sound like fireworks off in the distance — but not anymore.”
“Regardless of whether this is firearms or any other type of noise - noise pollution is real and has real mental and physical consequences,” said Dr. Meghan Ranney, the Warren Alpert Foundation Professor of Emergency Medicine, whose work focuses on the intersection between digital health, violence prevention, and population health.
“Just as we put up noise barriers next to new highways, we should consider how to protect citizens from this type of noise,” she added.
According to a report of the history of the facility published by the Cranston Police Department Retirees Association, Chief James G. Miller established the first in-service training school for Cranston’s police officers in 1936.
“In 1963, Chief Fouchecourt obtained the site of the present-day Cranston Police Training Academy and shooting range on Phoenix Avenue,” wrote the CPDRA. “The site was a former quarry that was no longer being used, and the high rocky cliffs made it the perfect setting for a shooting range.”
“In 1985, it became necessary to build a larger training complex to meet the growing needs of the department. After a new building was constructed in front of the old classroom and armory building, the old classroom was then refurbished and turned into office space,” said the report. “The Training Division itself was expanded. Before 1985, the division consisted of a single lieutenant. By 1986 the division had been expanded to include a captain and two officers.”
Pat Schoeninger, who lives on Scotland Drive off Midland Road just north of the range for 43 years, said, “My quality of life is not good. It’s disturbing the peace. Gunfire is gunfire — the brain does not distinguish if it’s coming from a citizen [or the police],” said Schoeninger. “I know how I feel when I hear it — my shoulders are up and I’m tense. As soon as it’s over I exhale.”
Schoeninger said she is pro-police, but believes the facility no longer belongs in a neighborhood by homes and schools.
“I’m not against police. My uncle was a decorated lieutenant; my cousins are police,” said Schoeninger. “That facility does not belong in this neighborhood.”
Police on Record
Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist spoke to GoLocal regarding Cranston’s use of the range and the steps he says the department has taken to address neighbors’ concerns.
He also discussed what outside groups are using the range and if that usage has increased.
“Every year, all department members by law must qualify with their pistols (153 officers) over twelve days in the fall. We are also required to qualify twice per year with our patrol rifles spread out over ten days. During the winter months, there is minimal use. Lastly, my department’s Special Reaction Team uses the range 16 hours per month,” said Winquist.
“Three local police departments use the range for their pistol qualifications. These departments compensate the city/police department, and that money is used for range maintenance,” he added. “We had more departments using the range in years past until I notified them they could no longer fire rifles to address complaints we received from neighbors. These departments then sought out alternative ranges.”
Winquist noted that outside departments are limited to firing pistols or shotguns, but that CPD Officers are permitted to fire pistols, shotguns, and rifles.
“We installed the sound baffles mentioned [in 2018],” said Winquist. “We have also increased the height of the berm/backstop and added other landscaping features to absorb more of the sound.”
Winquist said that from his perspective, moving the facility would not be an option.
“Having the range in the city is critical for us to deliver the required training to our officers, who by law must demonstrate proficiency with their issued firearms,” he said. “There is a limited number of ranges available to law enforcement in the state or neighboring states.”
"We have conducted sound meter tests from the high school, and surrounding neighborhoods, which revealed the noise from rifles and pistols being fired at the range was below the allowed decibel limits set by city ordinance," Winquist added.
Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins did not respond to questions regarding the range or the neighbors’ concerns — his office said Hopkins supported the comments provided by the chief.
Photos: Martha DiMeo/ChromaQueen.com
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