Santa Maria PD locked and loaded with plans for a new shooting range

Santa Maria PD is locked and loaded with plans for a new shooting-range. For the first time in four years, the agency will have its own range.

The department lost its old firing range when relocating to Betteravia Road in 2015.

“It was antiquated, it had some safety concerns, said Chief Phil Hansen.

They’ve been getting by on a few favors.

“One local landowner has been nice enough to use a piece of property that he has. It is private property, it has caused some noise concerns, environmental concerns for the neighbors,” he said.

Other times, the agency rented space at Camp SLO or at Allan Hancock College’s Law Enforcement Academy in Lompoc.

“It costs money to go out, it also takes people away from the city for extended periods of time.”

So PD shot their shot at Los Flores Ranch.

“There will be four ranges side by side, and I visualize this sort of like four tennis courts side by side, by side,” said city spokesman, Mark van de Kamp.

Van de Kamp says the city-owned property is a safe location away from the public, and for the exclusive use of our men and women in blue.

“Once every three months they have to qualify with their handguns, and they also have to qualify with rifles and shotguns,” said Chief Hansen.

Police won’t be jumping the gun when it comes to the environmental impact, though.

“After 100,000 rounds are expended, the casings will be collected to the degree possible. We’ll be keeping careful records of all the ammunition that is expended on site,” said van de Kamp.

The city is accepting bids from construction companies up until next Tuesday. They expect to break ground in August, and have it ready for use in October.

The cost of the project is about a quarter of a million dollars.