Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 4:00 pm

Murfreesboro Detective Chris Ashley and Sgt. Dan Fanning, sheriff's Capt, Steve Spence and Murfreesboro Police Sgt. David Johnson shoot first at the new range. Watching is sheriff's Lt. Britt Reed.

John Brown first heard about the need for a firing range for sheriff’s deputies when he joined the department 33 years ago.

Maj. Brown was one of about 50 guests who witnessed the joint sheriff’s office-Murfreesboro Police Department firing range open Tuesday beside the sheriff’s administrative offices and jail at 940 New Salem Highway.

“I never thought I’d see this day,” said the now-retired Brown.

Officers from both departments will do mandatory training and qualifying at the facility instead of traveling to other cities such as the National Guard Armory in Smyrna, based on availability.

Ground for the facility was broken last year and the project cost less than the $1.2 million expected price tag.

Retired City Manager Roger Haley, who recommended the project to the Murfreesboro Mayor and City Council said the facility is the “best in Tennessee. We’re so fortunate to have within the city limits for the sheriff’ and city police the range that will save taxpayers until thousands of dollars each year in training and travel time.”

The range should result in a reduced liability because officers will be better trained when responding to emergency situations, Haley said.

Sheriff Truman Jones joked Haley supported the plan if the county paid 100 percent. In reality, the county and city shared the project approved by the County Commission and City Council.

“This is a place we all will be proud of,” Jones said. “We’re going to utilize it 100 percent.”

The sheriff acknowledged architect Mark Rogers and sheriff’s training Capt. Steve Spence who worked on the project.

Murfreesboro Police Chief Glenn Chrisman said the support between the city and county means taxpayers got the best for their money.

The range training will prepare law enforcement officers to act when they decide to use deadly force, the chief said.

County Mayor Ernest Burgess thanked taxpayers for financial support of the project.

Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg said he appreciated the county and city working together to get a centrally located training facility. He thanked taxpayers for their stewardship.

Ronnie Barrett, who manufactures firearms with Barrett Manufacturing, said the range was long overdue. With the range training, it will reduce second-guessing for officers.

“The benefits we are going to get are just unbelievable,” Barrett said.

Sheriff’s Capt. Steve Spence, who worked on the range development, and Murfreesboro firearms instructors Detective Chris Ashley and Sgts. Don Fanning and David Johnson, fired the first rounds after the ceremony.

Teeters said officers will shoot from 5 to 50 yards with moving targets.

“We can program whatever shooting drill we want,” Teeters said, explaining two of the targets move quickly, allowing officers to simulate running subjects. “Officers can practice the targets as moving rather than static. That’s going to benefit us a lot by putting us in more realistic training situations. You’re rarely in a situation where the target is still. A moving target will make more realistic training for us.”

Murfreesboro Police firearms instructors will shoot Wednesday and a training class will shoot Friday.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Virgil Gammon said the range practice will make deputies sharper and easier to react in critical situations. The departments will save travel expenses and gas money because they had to drive out of town. Also, it will save paying the independent On Target facility.

“We were spending $40,000 to $50,000 a year in training costs,” Gammon said. “Now this money will come back to this location to pay for it.”