Good news for police, doesn't mean anything for most of us 

Police overtime and travel time for officers will be reduced after Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha yesterday each fired one ceremonial shot from a Sig Sauer pistol to dedicate the Honolulu police academy's new indoor firing range.

Unlike the Honolulu Police Department's outdoor range at Koko Head, the indoor range at the Ke Kula Makai police academy allows officers and recruits — and state and federal agencies — to practice and qualify 24 hours per day, at night and in lousy weather, Kealoha said.

Having the range indoors also allows officers working night shifts to practice and qualify for "annual recall training" at night, cutting down on overtime and travel time to get to Koko Head.

"This offers us a lot of flexibility," Kealoha said. "We can control the environment. In the Koko Head range, we used to wait until night to have night firing. Now all we have to do is shut off the lights and we have night firing."

The range is divided into two 15-lane rooms, one of which can be opened up to let police tactical teams drive in vehicles for specialized, live-fire training exercises.

"Let the word go forth that we will continue to support our police department," Hannemann said before dedicating the range. "... And let our residents and visitors know that we take safety and security very importantly."

Officers will begin using the new range on June 18.

It includes rooms for firearms simulators to train officers in shoot-don't-shoot situations, Kealoha said.

"This is new, this is cutting-edge technology," he said.

The range originally was projected to cost $5.4 million and be finished by April 13, 2006, city spokesman Bill Brennan said.

But $890,000 in cost overruns, especially ensuring a proper ventilation system to clear gun smoke, delayed the opening and ran the price tag to $6.3 million, said Craig Nishimura, director of the city's department of design and construction.

The 22,235-square-foot building includes a range master control room, ordnance and target storage spaces, a weapons cleaning room and office space.

Each of the 30 firing lanes is 75 feet long by 5 feet wide.

The range also includes a "running man" target that moves laterally on a track across the target line and pivoting targets designed to sharpen firing reflexes.

Although police will continue to use the Koko Head range, the new indoor facility will become the Honolulu Police Department's primary range.

I saw the coverage on the news last night.  My question is, why fire a Sig P226 from a ransom rest?  Well, in matter of public safety, I hope this encourages practice and range time for our men and women in uniform to ensure first shot accuracy.  I have heard stories from officers that firearms practice only takes place once a year before qualifying.  Scary thought.

I have heard stories from officers that firearms practice only takes place once a year before qualifying.

That is true for many officers. Although some of 'em are enthusiasts like us

What our wonderful investigative reporters failed to mention is that the range at the training academy should have been open years ago and that cost overruns were significant.
 
Just glad they have a place to practice....hopefully we can get one too.....

Any new range is good news in my book. 

I would hope that now, with less demand on Kokohead by HPD, that clubs might be able to schedule the action bays on weekdays. 

What does it take to schedule one of the action bays?

At the base, it takes a club and a liability policy.  You have to sign a permit application with the C&C, show proof of insurance listing the C&C as co-insured, and work out scheduling.  Honestly, Mike takes care of most of it, if you start with the insurance.  Anything outside of your normal schedule requires permission plus an insurance certificate. 

I think the amount of insurance required varies depending on the activity.  Expect to need a 1 million dollar general liability policy, and if they only ask for half-a-million, then great!  And don't be daunted by the number... a 1 million dollar general liability policy will only cost you a few hundred bucks a year.  NRA sponsors insurance for gun clubs and keeps the rates quite affordable.