Razza earns scholarship honors

Johnston’s Deputy Police Chief Joseph P. Razza recently added another arsenal to his already impressive resume.

Razza, JPD Chief Richard S. Tamburini announced, received the prestigious John D. Coyle Scholarship to attend the Justice System Training & Research Institute’s Command Training Series Executive Development Course, a seven-week comprehensive training program for senior police managers which was held at Roger Williams University in Bristol.

The Command Training Series provided Razza with tuition free training through the Coyle Scholarship at no cost to the Town of Johnston.

“I am thankful to the selection committee for this honor,” Razza said. “I had an opportunity to learn from instructors who have vast experience and knowledge in the field of law enforcement who taught current and best practices in the field.”

Razza also pointed out he was able to interact and network with colleagues in law enforcement who came to Bristol from all over New England.

“This training and the intense curriculum will allow me to better serve the men and women of the Johnston Police and the citizens of Johnston,” said Razza. “The training also taught me the latest and current concepts in the field of law enforcement and will aid me in my administrative duties.”

The development course, which was held at RWU because of its highly-acclaimed reputation for its School of Law, included classroom and online course work, and addressed contemporary concepts of management and leadership relevant to the responsibilities of the executive in a modern criminal justice agency.

Razza also noted that discussions included Executive Core Qualifications, concepts of reflective leadership, critical thinking and decision making, organizational and interpersonal communications, current trends in civil liability, budgeting, maneuvering in a political environment, and managing external dimensions of public safety decision making, research, police an practice, organizational culture and change management as well as labor and management relations.

Recipients of the Coyle Scholarship must be nominated by their Chief of Police and as RWU officials explained the Command Training Series: Executive Development Course is for select members who typically perform the duties for the rank of Captain, Major, Deputy Chief or Chief.