Belton targets law enforcement firearms training facility

BELTON – The Belton City Council has approved the creation of the Central Texas Regional Firearms Training Facility, which will be located on about 13 acres east of Central Ave. and west of Nolan Creek and E. Sixth Ave.

The Council rezoned the acres for the shooting range and accepted the donation of portable buildings from Belton Independent School District, which will be relocated to the site and used as classrooms and storage buildings.

The facility will be used to train law enforcement officials to handle a variety of situations they may face on the job. Construction should be completed between fall 2014 and the beginning of 2015.

The facility will include a ten-lane firearms range, and training will encompass a variety of subjects, including hostage negotiation, crisis communication and leadership. After it is established, the training site will serve not only Belton police, but other law enforcement officials in Central Texas.

The entire project will cost about $58,000. So far, the Governors Criminal Justice Division Justice Assistance Grant program, the Central Texas Council of Governments and the City have donated the majority of the money to build the training site.

Belton Police Chief Gene Ellis said about $10,000 more is needed, and the City is looking for more funding sources to help complete the project.