YOU COULD JEPARDIZE OUR RANGE - THIS IS A LESSON TO REMEMBER
The LFG Shooting Range had been closed since June 3rd, 2005 due to an incident where 9 mm police bullets left the range.
The Lethbridge Regional Police Service released the results of their Internal Investigation regarding this incident. This report went under review by Lethbridge City Council, and a decision was made at the June 27th City Council meeting to re-open the range at the current location.
Canadian Press reported that, "(Lethbridge Regional Police Service) Chief John Middleton-Hope said an internal investigation has showed it was the force's training scenario, and not the Alberta Fish and Game Association firing range itself, that was to blame."
Although the range had surpassed the required safety requirements at the time of the incident, and has since added additional safety features, the LFGA Executive has also created a new set of Range Safety Protocols to further pubic safety.
Lethbridge City Council passed a resolution (with 5 in favour and 1 opposed) allowing the LFG Shooting Range to re-open, with strict conditions. Although we face a new reality, with your assistance and patience we will all be able to continue to use and enjoy the LFG Range. Operations at the Range will be different than they have in the past in these ways:
- There is a new gate system which utilizes an "electronic key" to enter and exit the range. This system records your name, card number and the times you arrived and departed.
- Only Range Officers and members involved in archery only will be provided these "electronic keys". To get your key you will need to sign an agreement and abide by the conditions of that agreement to maintain your ability to access the range.
- All rifle and handgun shooting must have an LFG Range Officer present on that range. LFG Range officers will be able to access and use the range within the range opening and closing times by themselves. For this privilege, we expect LFG Range Officers to volunteer some of their time to assist range members in accessing and safely using the LFG Range.
- You will note that the range is physically different than before. All steel and concrete has either been removed or has been covered to eliminate the potential for ricochets.
- Any range bookings will go through a hazard pre-assessment which will identify any potential risks inherent in their practice and/or exercises. Further, any range booking groups will be supervised by an LFG Range Officer. These groups will pay for this supervision.
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LETHBRIDGE REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
Media Statement by Chief John Middleton-Hope
The Professional Standards Unit of the Lethbridge Regional Police Service has completed the investigation into police bullets leaving the Fish and Game Association Firing Range. These bullets were discharged during a training scenario on May 3, 2005. The report has been submitted to the Office of the Chief of Police and a review has been completed.
It is important that the public understand this event occurred under controlled circumstances and with the supervision of qualified firearms instructors. Having said that, this event brings home the very real potential for accidents to take place even under controlled circumstances and with the supervision of qualified firearms instructors. I would like to apologize to the public and want to reassure them that the training scenario used by the Service in this instance has been modified and is a dry fire exercise only. Live ammunition will no longer be used during this exercise.
The scenario required our officers to simulate being knocked to the ground and then respond to a deadly threat by firing at a target that was in front of a berm and the coulee. Unfortunately the angle created by our officers firing up allowed four 9 mm rounds to escape the range and travel up over the berm and coulee to a residential community nearby. Thankfully no one was injured and the property damaged by our rounds will be repaired.
There are five recommendations contained in the report that will be adopted, three relate to revisions of policy to align policy with practice;
- Policy will be amended to specifically identify the type of ammunition used in training.
- Policy will be amended so that the LRPS Training Advisory Committee will determine training needs and the Human Resources Sergeant or other senior member of the service will approve new curriculum, or changes to existing curriculum.
- Policy will be amended to differentiate between firearms training and qualification. The latter being intended to ensure that basic proficiency is maintained.
- The firearms training officers will not be disciplined in this matter as they are already well aware of the ramifications of training mishaps and it is felt that discipline is not required in this instance to correct behavior or ensure this type of accident is not repeated.
- Whenever possible, dry firing will be considered rather than live firing during scenario based training.
The safety of our communities is our primary concern and a responsibility we take very seriously. Amendments to both our practices and procedures will result from this event and the public is assured even greater care will be taken to make certain we do not have a recurrence.
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Southern Alberta police force apologizes for stray bullet that hit apartment
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. (CP) _ Lethbridge regional police apologized to the public Thursday and said they have changed their firearms training as the result of a stray police bullet hitting an apartment on March 3.
Chief John Middleton-Hope said an internal investigation has showed it was the force's training scenario, and not the Alberta Fish and Game Association firing range itself, that was to blame.
``Live ammunition will no longer be used during this exercise,'' said Middleton-Hope. ``Thankfully no one was injured and the property damaged by our rounds will be repaired.
Among the changes will be a move back to the police service's own gun range, which had been closed after an officer was injured. Since then more than $90,000 worth of renovations have been completed.
A spokesman for the Fish and Game Association wasn't surprised by the findings and hopes city council will reopen the river valley range, which has been closed since the incident.
``(The police report) pretty much exonerated the range,'' said spokesman Kevin Bland.
Mayor Bob Tarleck said a decision will be made at council's June 27 meeting.
``The paramount concern is public safety,'' he said. ``If we can be assured they can continue to operate a safe and secure operation, those are the only conditions that would prompt me to vote to reopen the range to their use.''
During the training exercise, officers were simulating being knocked to the ground and having to fire at a target located in front of a berm and a coulee.
The angle created by the officers firing upward allowed four 9-mm rounds to travel up over the coulee and into a residential area.
One of the bullets crashed through a window and lodged in the bedroom wall of an apartment, another lodged itself between two panes of glass in the same apartment and the third and fourth bullets were found on the ground.
A nearby school was on a recess break at the time, and police requested the children be taken inside for safekeeping while they investigated.
