News

N.C. opens 'state of the art' shooting range — for $2.9M

From left: Highway Patrol Maj. Bert Eastwood; SBI Director Bob Schurmeier; ALE Branch Head Terrance Merriweather; Samarcand Training Academy Director Richard Jordan; Rep. James L. Boles Jr.; Secretary Erik A. Hooks; Deputy Secretary Tim Moose.

By Lightning Reports, Published: June 5, 2017

JACKSON SPRINGS — Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks and other state officials on Monday officially dedicated a state-of-the-art Firearms Training Center at Samarcand Training Academy in Moore County.

The North Carolina General Assembly allocated $2.89 million to construct the outdoor training center for correctional and probation/parole officers, as well as other law enforcement officials, to receive firearms and tactical training.

That construction cost is $17 million less than the projected cost of an indoor Law Enforcement Training Center in Hendersonville that also would boast a state of the art firing range. Sheriff Charlie McDonald, who told commissioners he needed an updated training facility and firing range, has come under fire for the cost of the proposed center at BRCC. In response McDonald has said he did not ask for a $20 million building nor did he choose BRCC as the site. McDonald started out looking for a site for an outdoor range, which he said could be built for around $3 million.

In October commissioners unanimously authorized $1.3 million in architects fees for Clark Nexsen, the county’s architect of record, and OK'd $19.9 million overall for the project. The facility was to include 12 100-yard shooting lanes and 12 lanes 50 yards deep. Although the newly approved county budget includes funding for the project, commissioners have not discussed the facility since they sent McDonald back to the drawing board to lower the cost.

At 49,000 square feet, the Henderson County law enforcement training center would be 16 times larger than the 3,000-foot outdoor range that provides "the best possible training" for prison guards and parole officers.

Secretary Hooks said the Firearms Training Center will provide the necessary training officers need to safely do their jobs.

“I believe it’s truly a calling, and the very least we can do to help those who answer that call is provide them with the best possible training and training aids — we must give them the very best lifesaving 'tools' to put in their 'toolbox,'" Secretary Hooks said. “That’s why the new Training Center here at Samarcand is so important in helping us to protect and serve the people and communities of North Carolina.”

 Features of the training center in Moore County include:

• A 3,000-square-foot range house that includes a training classroom with advanced technology and presentation equipment and space for 30 students.
• A firearms training simulator that can be used to train students on marksmanship and weapon use. This can save thousands of dollars by training in a virtual simulator instead of training with live rounds on the range.
  A 20-foot-tall range tower that overlooks the entire range area for safety oversight during live fire exercises.
• Two ranges with advanced steel bullet traps, going from ranges of zero to 300 yards, and designed for all weapon systems up to sniper rifles.
• A 360-degree turning target system, which will make training more realistic with timed drills and targets that face forward for a limited amount of time, which offer lethal and non-lethal targets that mirror the real world of shoot/no shoot decision making.

Both ranges also feature innovative technology in their use of steel bullet traps. The traps protect shooters by directing dangerous ricochets and lead dust build-up into the trap, which protects the environment by collecting lead fragments into sealed containers.
“The extensive commitment by the governor and General Assembly to provide funding for this DPS training facility will allow North Carolinians and visitors to be served by dedicated public servants who have received their training at a premier facility,” said Samarcand Training Academy Director Richard Jordan. “This facility now provides potential savings by having training at one location, which cuts down on driving time, labor and vehicle costs.”

Since its 2015 opening, Samarcand Training Academy has conducted basic, in-service, and advanced training for the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice. NCDPS law enforcement agencies also utilize Samarcand to conduct in-service and advanced training programs, while other local, state, federal, and military agencies outside of NCDPS may conduct training events at the facility.

The opening of the Firearms Training Center and construction of an instructor dormitory that opened last month completed one phase of the renovation of what was the former Samarkand Manor youth rehabilitation center.

In March 2016, voters approved ConnectNC, a $2 billion capital improvement bond proposal that included $8.5 million for the continued renovation of Samarcand. These funds will be used to construct a free-standing dining hall, demolish three dilapidated buildings, renovate four additional buildings, and increase the capacity of Samarcand to 10 classrooms and dormitories to house 165 trainees. The total construction/renovation project is scheduled to be completed by 2019.