Wednesday, March 18, 2015

[Solano County] Report: Fairfield should increase marketing for police center; city agrees


FAIRFIELD — Continue to increase marketing to attract more outside law enforcement use, the Solano County grand jury recommends for the Art Koch Range & Training Center – and the Fairfield city staff agrees.
The grand jury report found the facility can expand training as more revenue is received from law enforcement outside Fairfield, a conclusion the city staff recommend the City Council support when it takes up the matter Tuesday.
Terry Riddle, grand jury foreman, sent a copy of the report to the city in January.
Fairfield, like other public agencies, is required to respond to the grand jury.
The report found the firearms range and training center at 1717 Rex Clift Lane is well maintained.
“The center is so well designed and equipped that law enforcement personnel from several city, state and federal agencies use it to enhance their performance,” the grand jury report states.
A simulator area houses a laser shooting platform for near-to-life scenarios, the grand jury noted.
Fairfield charges fees for agencies other than the police departments and revenue could allow for additions, the report adds.
The $12 million training center completed in 2008 is named for Sgt. Art Koch, the only officer in Fairfield’s history to have died in the line of duty. He died July 29, 1984.
He was responding to a disturbance call on Berkeley Way after finishing his last shift as a patrol officer. The 34-year-old father of three lay wounded for about 20 minutes before paramedics and firefighters were able to rescue him. He died a few hours later, notes the website of the Fairfield Police Officers’ Association.
City Council members meet at 6 p.m. in the chamber at 1000 Webster St.
March 18, 2015
Daily Republic
By Ryan McCarthy

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