By Taylor Jensen/reporter

Soon, the sound of gunfire on NW Campus and in the surrounding community will be eliminated, a NW criminal justice training official said.

Adam Bush, assistant coordinator/range master, said the center is looking forward to a new, fully enclosed shooting range.

“It creates a lot more opportunity with the technology you can have in a closed range,” he said. “It is the best quality of stuff we can use.”

With the construction of a new high school beside NW Campus, the firing range is being built to eliminate the sounds of gunfire that could startle others, Bush said.

“We often hear from students on the campus, especially when the prevailing winds are out of the north,” said vice president of student development services Joe Rode. “Once students become familiar with the range and its activities, our students generally feel reassured to have so many police officers and officers-in-training on the campus.”

The range will be indoors and fully enclosed with 15 lanes at 50 yards and five lanes at 100 yards. It will also offer the opportunity of a “night” shoot whenever needed, Bush said.

“It will not only offer relief from the sound of gunshots echoing in the community but will be used for training and in-service utilities,” he said.

NW Campus student Kaitee Albin said she had heard the shooting and knew about the on-campus training.

“Even with the knowledge of the police academy, it is a relief to learn of the new enclosed range,” she said. “The noise can be at times concerning and distracting.”

The range will be used by the police academy, but departments from surrounding communities can use it as well for practice and in-service classes, Bush said.

“The new range will be a positive impact on the campus as well as the surrounding community,” he said.