Warwick Police Sergeant Nelson Carreiro was acting on the hot seat Thursday afternoon. He was before Municipal Court Justice Kelly McElroy on a mock DUI charge. She was watching his every move as were the prosecution and defense and 15 of the 17 police recruits who started the Warwick Police Academy on Valentine’s Day and will conclude with graduation ceremonies June 16 at City Hall.

The background of the mock arrest was quickly established by recruit Andrew Persechino who took the stand under the questioning of city solicitor Kerry Raffanelli, acting as the prosecutor. Persechino played the role of the first officer at the scene describing how he approached a black Silverado stopped in the area of Strawberry Field Road with its engine running and lights on. It was about 4:20 p.m. Persechino stepped through what occurred from there.

As he approached the car to see if he could be of assistance, the man who was identified as Carreiro shut off the engine. Persechino said there was an odor of alcohol and Carreiro’s eyes were blood shot and speech slurred. He suspected he had been drinking.

Carreiro is one of many instructors working with recruits. The academy is run by Warwick Captain Robert Hart, Lt. Matthew Higgins and Sgt. Justin Martin.

The program is run out of the New England Institute of Technology Criminal Justice Building on Access Road in Warwick as well as the former Cooper Armory on Sandy Lane. Recruits also train at other city facilities including the gun range.

In the DUI scenario, Recruit Corbin Pereira was the second officer to arrive at the scene. Pereira looked to take a seat next to Persechino who was on the stand but was quickly instructed to leave the room. He would be called next, and it was apparent that attorney Ray Angell, a retired Cranston sergeant who teaches criminal law, wanted to catch any inconsistencies between the two testimonies.

Pereira is a Pilgrim High graduate who lives in Cowesett with his wife and two children. Their youngest was born recently and the other, a toddler, loves having a sister.

Pereira left a significantly better paying job at the ACI to come to Warwick. He said after eight years of virtually the same routine behind locked doors he is looking forward to doing police work in the community where he lives.

Raffanelli quizzed Persechino on how he concluded Carreiro was “intoxicated” by demonstrating the tests he put the suspect through. These actions were closely watched by the defense, who asked the recruit to repeat the steps. Angell noted Persechino performed the test slightly differently.

He also sought to poke holes in Persechino’s testimony, but didn’t get far.

Throughout Persechino answered Raffanelli and McElroy respectfully using “sir” and “your honor.” That was part of what Carreiro hoped the recruits would get to see.

Apart from witnessing court procedures, Carreiro wanted recruits to understand the importance of speaking clearly and confidently under oath and court etiquette. Also, he was looking to understand “the importance of writing reports and how inconsistencies or what is not included can be challenged.”

When all was said and done, Judge McElroy ruled Carreiro guilty as charged, and the class was done for the day.