Facility To Enhance Community's Public Safety

[image:3839]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2008

For more information, please contact:
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov



Bloomington, IN - On Tuesday the City of Bloomington cut the ribbon -- actually the "Police Line, Do Not Cross" tape -- on a state-of-the-art, small arms training facility that will enhance our community's public safety. The facility, constructed adjacent to the Fire Training Tower at3230 S. Walnut, is one of the most progressive in the state. It will allow City public safety personnel to obtain advanced training locally, and it positions Bloomington as a regional training resource.

Recently, Mayor Mark Kruzan emphasized the significance of the training center in enhancing Bloomington's community commerce, condition and character.

"This is a major step forward for our law enforcement and public safety officers, and today I am proud that we have two state-of-the-art facilities right in our backyard," Kruzan said. "This is the only facility complex of its kind in the region. These types of amenities not only will strengthen our public safety, but they also will help make our community a destination for law enforcement training."

With 12 firing positions, an advanced ventilation system, moving targets and lowlight training capabilities, the facility will provide Bloomington's officers with skills that previously were obtained only outside of Monroe County. Moreover, the center has extensive storage capacity as well as a large classroom in which training seminars for both Police and Fire personnel will be conducted.

City Police Chief Michael Diekhoff thanked City Council Members and staff from the various City departments that were involved in bringing the project together. The Council approved funding for the project in 2007, and the City's Public Works, Planning and Police departments all played significant roles in ensuring a timely and successful completion to the facility.

Diekhoff also said the facility represents a shift in how Bloomington's police force will train.

"This facility is going to make a real difference in the way we train and the skill sets our officers possess," said Diekhoff. "This increased training capacity will help our officers keep our residents and visitors that much safer."

[Click here|http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=3281;] for more pictures of the event.

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