Dozens of residents from Willington and East Windsor hit the road today in buses to Hartford arriving full-force to a hearing about a proposed state police firing range that may be built in one of their towns.
Residents boarded wearing t-shirts and holding signs to show they’re not for a state police firing range possibly coming to their town.
“We all feel it’s just wrong all the way around,” said Eric Nichols of Willington.
When residents arrived to Hartford’s Legislative Office Building, there was only standing room only.
This meeting was the first time the state’s public safety and security committee would speak before the public discussing the project with members of the state departments of administrative services, emergency services and public protection. DAS and ESPP said the new range would cost about $ 7 million.
“And they deserve the best training and facility to provide that training possible,” said Lt. Mark Petruzzi with State Police to the committee.
The 55,000 square foot facility would replace one used in Simsbury, which is prone to flooding.
Some committee members argued the range should not be in Willington or East Windsor, but that state police could train at the existing National Guard firing range in East Haven.
“Wouldn’t it be wise for us to get 2 organizations who are going to have to work together in the case of an emergency –state police and the national guard – to do training the same facility have some familiarity with each other makes sense to me,” said Sen. Tony Guglielmo who represents Willington.
Residents hope the range isn’t placed in their town.
“It is so close it is less than a mile from people, residential areas,” said Munok Dane of East Windsor.
"They said wont go where we’re not wanted. Pretty clear we don’t want the range there," said Dave Tharp of Willington.
Officials with DAS said they're continuing to look at other locations for the range.
