CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Police Department soon will have its own firing range.
During Monday’s City Council meeting, Taylor proposed establishing a firing range and training facility for the police department.
Although the agency has qualified instructors, the CPD’s ability to effectively train officers is greatly hindered by the lack of a readily available training venue, Taylor said.
Police officers’ ability to train currently depends on the availability of firing ranges and training spaces of other law enforcement or corrections agencies, private companies or property owners, he said.
For instance, police officers recently visited the Walton County Sheriff's Office shooting range for about three hours of pistol, rifle and shotgun qualifying.
Taylor — who has spent four years improving the CPD to include greater transparency, efficiency and accreditation — has said a growing law enforcement agency needs a range closer to home.
The city of Crestview owns a parcel of undeveloped land adjacent to the Crestview Sewer Treatment Spray Field off Okaloosa Lane. The unused parcel, which is approximately 20 acres, could be cleared for construction of a city-owned firing range and training area, he said.
All council members in attendance approved the proposal. City Council President Joe Blocker was absent; Councilman JB Whitten led the meeting.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City Council OKs police firing range