By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

All Central Falls police officers have completed non-violence training, becoming the first police department in Rhode Island to do so, and the chief in the smallest city is recommending other departments follow suit.

“I think that non-violence education is essential in law enforcement,” said Central Falls Police Chief Anthony Roberson at a ceremony Friday morning in front of the police station to recognize the achievement.

“It gives officers another tool on their belt in order to deal with the variety of situations that, even more so, they are called upon to deal with,.” said Roberson. He said that all 39 officers on the small police department took part in the training, including himself.

Central Falls “is more equipped and empowered to address situations with nonviolent solutions,” said Mayor Maria Rivera. She said the initiative follows other steps the city is taking, such as hiring a non-violence outreach specialist, initiating a non-violence – focused summer youth program.

Training was provided over several weeks by members of the Providence-based Non-violence Institute.

“In this day and time, I think that it is critical, it’s critical that we collaborate with law enforcement all around this state,” said Institute Executive Director Cedric Huntley, who said police find it to be valuable.

“The non-violence training is an important part, and an important tool in their effort to connect and build relationships with the community,” Huntley said.

One of the Institute’s long-serving facilitators, Sal Monteiro said that among the officers to undergo the training was a Central Falls officer involved in his own arrest some 30 years ago.

“Within this training and this conversation that we had, there was some healing that took place. There was some forgiveness that took place. There was a little bit of understanding that took place,” Monteiro said.