Representatives of the city and county are joining forces with law enforcement officers and community members to develop a long-term plan to relocate the shared firing range currently located on Moccasin Bend. The committee will investigate potential relocation sites that will meet the needs of the various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that utilize the current site for training.
In addition to examining prospective relocation sites, the committee will examine potential funding sources to help expedite the relocation of the range. The most recent effort to move the firing range was unsuccessful after the estimated cost of the project ballooned to more than double the originally budgeted amount, said officials.
The initial committee members include:
Brad Bennett – Superintendent, National Park Service
Fred Fletcher - Chief of Police, Chattanooga Police Department
Jim Hammond - County Sheriff, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department
Allen Branum - Chief Deputy, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department
Al Kiser - Chief Financial Officer, Hamilton County
Daisy Madison - Chief Financial Officer, City of Chattanooga
Michael Newton – Officer, Chattanooga Police Department
Sean O’Brien - Special Operations K-9 Unit, Chattanooga Police Department
Jenny Park - Strategic Capital Planner, City of Chattanooga
Paul Parker – Real Property Manager, Hamilton County
Dan Saieed – Board Chairman, Friends of Moccasin Bend
Rob Taylor - Board Member, Friends of Moccasin Bend
Greg Vital - Board Member, Friends of Moccasin Bend
Rick Wood – Director, Trust for Public Land Tennessee
Michael Wurzel - Executive Director, Friends of Moccasin Bend
The committee, which will also include a representative from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is expected to meet soon to determine a schedule moving forward.