The Providence Police Department made over a dozen rescues over the course of the Blizzard of 2026, thanks to its emergency vehicle, the BearCat.
“Once the weather got really bad, just about everything in the city was stuck. The plow trucks, the ambulances, the police cars,” Providence Police Department K9 handler David Impagliazzo said.
After getting call after call regarding stuck vehicles, the Providence Police Department decided to deploy the BearCat, an emergency vehicle built for dangerous situations.
“Forty-inch tires and it weighs about eight tons, its very heavy” Impagliazzo said.
The Providence Police Department made over a dozen rescues over the course of the Blizzard of 2026, thanks to its emergency vehicle, the BearCat.
During the blizzard, the BearCat was able to pull out both police cruisers and ambulances.
“We had a tow strap and some cables and ropes that we were able to tow those vehicles and get the officers back to Central Station,” Providence Police Department Sgt. Matthew Sheridan said.
The crew also responded to calls of an ambulance that got stuck on its way to the hospital, with patients inside.
“At one point there was a Johnston rescue fire and Cranston fire rescue. They were transporting patients to the hospital,” Sheridan said. “We got them to the hospital for the care they needed.”
During the time of the rescues, Providence was hit hard with snow.
“It was crazy. It was difficult. There was no visibility. Zero visibility at time,” Impagliazzo said. “But it was able to make its way through.”
The BearCat crew also transported doctors, nurses, and other essential workers to their jobs.
“The city was struggling during the snowstorm, so it was just like anything else is just getting there and getting to people that need help,” Impagliazzo said.