HomeMy WebLinkAboutFirearm Range Complaint Phillips POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
r 14168 57TH STREET NORTH • P.O. BOX 2007 LINDY SWANSON
OAK PARK HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55082 CHIEF OF POLICE
® TELEPHONE: (651) 439 -4723
FAX: (651) 439 -3639
EMERGENCY: 911
January 15, 1999
Mr. Larry Phillips
5272 Stagecoach Trl.N.
Oak Park Heights, MN
55082
Dear Mr. Phillips
I understand that you appeared at our recent firearms qualification, winter /night shoot,
located at the outdoor firing range on the Minnesota Correctional Facility /Stillwater
property on Stagecoach Trl.N. First, I would like to offer a most sincere apology for not
contacting you in regards to our scheduled shoot. I had previously contacted the Bayport
Police Chief, due to the fact that this was a joint training session with our two agencies,
and asked that he contact Mr. Richard Murray of Bayport and discuss our upcoming
training session as I knew that Mr. Murray had held objections previously. This was
done and Mr. Murray was quite cooperative. I must admit that I didn't think about
contacting anyone else so your failing to have been personally notified was my
oversight.
It was my understanding that the Correctional Facility was sending schedules of use to
surrounding neighbors each month that the range had activity scheduled. I will attempt
to contact you in the future to discuss our Police Dept's. schedule to utilize this range so
that you might be "forwarned ".
Police Departments throughout the state are mandated to conduct at least one training
program annually dealing with night time shooting conditions. We are also mandated by
the state to conduct at lease one inclement weather shoot annually. This year I chose to
combine the two and contacted Bayport P.D. and offered to conduct a joint session. This
was done in an attempt to reduce the number of sessions that would need to be conducted
in the area. This training, although I realize it irritates you tremendously, is a necessary
evil.
I am currently sitting on a steering committee made up of several representatives from
police and fire agencies located in Washington County, in an attempt to study the
possibility of building a Police/Fire Training Facility which if done, would alleviate our
need to use target ranges like the one on Stagecoach Trl. This study however, has shown
that this type of facility would be of significant expense. We are continueing forward
looking for funding through grants, etc ... and the project is still alive. This project, if ever
approved, is still a few years away at best. This means that the Oak Park Heights Police
Dept. will have the continued need to use the target range located on Stagecoach Trl.N.
As you recall, at previous meetings held several years ago, the Dept of Corrections
agreed to reduce the number of agencies permitted to use this facility and this has been
done. The facility use is now limited to those agencies located in the immediate area.
Again, I offer a most sincere apology for not making a personal contact with you in
regards to this most recent use of the range. I will be sure-to make contact with you in
the future. If you would like to discuss the matter please do not hesitate to give me a call
or stop in and see me.
Sincerely,
��
l
Lindy Swanson
Chief of Police