CHARLOTTE HALL, Md. - It’s bigger, it’s better and when it rains, it will be a lot drier, too.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office’s firearms range at the Southern Maryland Pre-Release Unit on Oaks Road in Charlotte Hall was recently expanded to accommodate more shooters and enable unrestricted firearms use, and was resurfaced to facilitate water drainage. On Oct. 11, the Sheriff’s Office held a ceremony to formally dedicate the new range and thank Charles County Pubic Facilities for completing the renovations, which took place between June and August.
As a result of the renovation project, the range was enhanced in four specific areas. It was lengthened from 50 yards to 75 yards, enabling the use of the patrol rifles, which previously were not fired because of length restrictions. Instead of eight firing positions, the range now has 12. The range’s surface was prepared to facilitate the drainage of rain, which previously caused flooding. Finally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) donated a trailer to provide an on-site facility for classroom instruction to better accommodate officers completing in-service training requirements. The Sheriff’s Office’s firearms instructors previously held class at other facilities, often resulting in a fee.
During the ceremony, Dr. Lovell King, a chaplain for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, blessed the new firearms range and the personnel who will utilize it. He also blessed the officers’ marksmanship badges, which indicate firearms proficiency.
After Charles County Commissioners President Wayne Cooper presented Sheriff Frederick E. Davis with a proclamation regarding the range, Sheriff Davis presented the following Public Facilities personnel with certificates to thank them for ensuring the successful completion of the renovations:
Director Mike Mudd, Chief of Building and Trades Bill Proper, Project Manager John Earle, Assistant Project Manager Bill Sandy, Construction Supervisors Tim Turner and Dave Defalco, Maintenance Mechanics Ron Strickland, Troy Heard, Keith Mills, Paul Springer, Brian Vogel, Patl Watson, David Cain, Mark Cox and Rob Hunter and Steve Staples, James Pickeral, Troy Garner, Tim Richards, Wade Knott, Paul Swann, Greg Keys, Donald Watkins, Mark Wathen and Joe Dickerson.
“I am very pleased to offer our officers an improved firearms range and I am grateful to the Charles County Commissioners for supporting the project,” said Sheriff Frederick E. Davis. “I am also grateful to everyone whose hard work and effort ensured the successful completion of this project. Firearms training is important for every police officer and I am pleased our officers now have this greatly improved facility.”