The 2015-2016 State of Florida budget has been approved and it includes nearly $1 million in additional funding to complete improvements already underway the Palm Bay Range. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The 2015-2016 State of Florida budget has been approved and it includes nearly $1 million in additional funding to complete improvements already underway the Palm Bay Range.
The governor and legislature approved an additional $800,000 in state funds to build phase 2 of the range which will include tactical turning and moving targets, an additional 50-yard pistol range and a maintenance facility.
It is being added to the grant that was awarded last year for phase 1 of the project which will be complete by the end of this month. Once the grant for phase 2 is awarded construction will begin as early as October.
Mark Renkens
“We appreciate all the support from Speaker Steve Crisafulli and the entire Brevard delegation for dedicating this funding to this project,” said Chief Mark Renkens.
“You can’t put a price on the value this will bring to our regional first responders. This investment will help all of us train at a higher level and will undoubtedly improve public safety response.”
Phase 1 of the state funded range project is expected to be complete by June 30.
It includes a 60-foot tactical tower, a shoot-house and a training simulator.
The tactical tower allows first responders to train in multi-story structures and can improve abilities to rescue trapped victims.
It also helps rescuers acclimate to various critical incidents involving heights.
The shoot-house is a structure that facilitates the testing of a first responder’s ability to respond to an active shooter in a school, a gunman in a hospital, a barricaded suspect in a home with hostages or any other critical incident.
The training simulator also delivers a variety of scenarios that tests an officer’s command presence, verbal skills, less lethal options and other situations.
The tactical turning and moving targets that will be added in phase 2 tests an officer’s split second decision making ability and how to identify real threats.
Phase two also adds another 50-yard pistol range that will facilitate increased usage.
John Resh
“When added to the current inventory of available resources these components collectively can work together to create a regional training complex that will reach thousands of public safety professionals,” said Commander John Resh.
“That was our goal from the beginning and we are glad to see it being realized.”
