Construction activity has begun for building the first indoor regional firearms training facility for the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department. About a year ago, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract for the project for over 19-million dollars. It’s on county-owned land on Kahele Court Court, near the Dispatch Center. County staff stated, at the time, that there is currently only one indoor, privately-owned range in the county. And law enforcement officers have limited access, with no utilization during regular business hours. So they mostly rely on a Fish and Wildlife outdoor range. Captain Sean Scales says the facility will accommodate all area law enforcement agencies. It’ll have 12 range lanes and also feature moveable targets…

click to listen to Captain Scales

Scales says the Sheriff’s Department needs much more flexibility for 141 positions across multiple work shifts who would be required to use the range at least four times a year, as required by state law…

click to listen to Captain Scales

Scales also mentioned that having the best training should also help reduce liability costs, with a number of law enforcement agencies sued over the years from shooting encounters with civilians. He says, at this point, they’re on track to open the range in the fall of next year. And it can also be used by other area law enforcement agencies.