Commission approves purchase order for new live-fire shoot house for Dayton Police

The Dayton City Commission approved a purchase order with Safe Wear Incorporated for $860,000 to design and install a new live-fire shoot house for the Dayton Police Department.

City staff presented the purchase order as B1 on the city manager's docket. The manager's report noted $800,000 of the project had previously been included in the debt portfolio presented last fall, and the additional $60,000 represents contingency for potential foundation or site unknowns.

Chief Afsell told commissioners the new facility is an upgrade to a 25-year-old training structure that is no longer usable. He said the new shoot house will include ballistic containment, sliding replaceable barriers to alter layouts, a catwalk so instructors can observe exercises, double-entry doors to reduce crossfire, and built-in round-capture systems. Chief Afsell emphasized that the facility supports scenario-based training (including role players and simulated medical aid), dynamic decision-making, de-escalation tactics and evidence-collection practice; live-fire discharge in the house will be limited to fact-based training scenarios and follow department policy.

The chief said the shoot house can be used for recruit and in-service training, for the citizen police academy to illustrate decision-making in high-pressure situations, and potentially to host training for other agencies if scheduling allows. Commissioners asked about training hours and community-oriented uses; the chief said the department typically trains beyond state minimums and that the facility will support a variety of practical scenarios beyond static range practice.

The commission approved the city manager's recommendations, including this purchase order, by voice vote earlier in the meeting.