State police urge modest upgrades at training range to allow realistic rifle and vehicle training

New Hampshire State Police officials asked the Public Works and Highways committee for modest capital improvements to the agency’s firearms training range, saying the current site limits realistic training, including rifle use and vehicle-based scenarios.

Commissioner Robert Quinn of the Department of Safety told committee members the range serves as “the backstop for law enforcement throughout the state,” supporting some 300 agencies and many towns without local police. Major Davey, who leads the operations bureau of the New Hampshire State Police, said the current configuration forces static, “punching holes in paper” training rather than realistic, moving exercises.

Major Davey said the state-owned range allows troopers to simulate starting and firing from vehicles, using cover and elevation, and practicing transitions from handguns to rifles. He said many commercial or shared ranges restrict movement, prohibit vehicles and are not rifle-rated. “At the PSTC range there…they have built a backstop that is insufficient to stop rifle rounds,” Major Davey said, adding that troopers in some high-threat responses need to transition to rifles immediately.

Beyond the operational limits, the troopers said the site lacks basic utilities and amenities: no continuous power, no running water, no permanent restrooms and no hygienic facilities for handling lead exposure after prolonged firing. Major Davey called the requested work a “modest investment” that would make the place safer and more usable for state, local and federal partners.

The Division of Public Works provided the committee with cost estimates. Theodore Kuppper, director of project management at Public Works, said the construction and site estimate for a basic building and utilities is $1,500,000 (roughly $1,000,000 for the building and $500,000 for site work). He added soft costs—consultant design, required BPW fee, contractor overhead and an inflation allowance—bring the total estimate to $2,300,000. Kuppper said the $1,500,000 building estimate assumed about $300 per square foot and described the planned facility as a basic structure with office space, two classrooms (one convertible to a gym), men’s and women’s restrooms, and heating and air-conditioning.

Representative Kosinski pressed on the difference between the existing small building footprint and the price estimate; Kuppper and Department of Safety staff said that the Form 1A submission is conceptual and that the DPW estimate accounts for the full build-out, utilities (an artesian well estimated at $52,600 and septic at $75,000) and soft costs. A committee member asked for a copy of the figures; staff said they would provide them.

The request remained in the capital package under discussion; committee staff later confirmed the gun range item was included in the current totals. Committee members did not vote separately on the range during the hearing; staff committed to circulating the DPW figures by email.

The testimony included technical and safety rationale from sworn operators and cost detail from the design/estimation office; no new regulations or legal authorities were cited during the discussion.

The committee was provided additional printed and electronic materials after the hearing, according to staff.