Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
O'Fallon police defend Castle training center as neighbors press for more noise mitigation
Summary
Major Derek Myers outlined the multi‑agency Castle training facility’s purpose and recent acoustic mitigation steps after residents reported nighttime gunfire. City staff said sound measurements generally met ordinance thresholds but pledged additional testing, more public posting of night exercises and further mitigation study, including independent verification and possible berms or a roof.
Major Derek Myers, assistant police chief, told the City Council on May 28 that the Castle regional training facility was conceived as a multi‑agency response to a regional spike in vehicle‑theft and violent crime and that it now provides hands‑on training—vehicle operations, a 200‑yard outdoor range, a simulation house and a tactical assault area—shared by O'Fallon and partner agencies. Myers said the board sought state funding and limited the facility's hours while installing acoustic baffling after residents complained about noise. He said the facility initially lacked an overhead roof for budget reasons and that adding one was estimated at roughly $1.5 million in earlier planning discussions.
Why it matters: The facility is intended to improve officer safety and regional crime response, but neighbors assert that percussive gunfire at night disrupts sleep and peace. The council must balance resident quality‑of‑life concerns with law‑enforcement training requirements.
What the city reported: Myers presented decibel measurements taken at Castle property corners before and after baffling was installed and said code enforcement used commercial‑zone criteria to evaluate compliance because the site is zoned agricultural and that the department is trying to be conservative by measuring at the Castle property as a baseline. He acknowledged that firearms are intermittent and can be more disturbing than steady traffic noise even when readings meet ordinance levels. Staff said no residential zoning violations were documented from the May 6 readings but agreed that compliance with decibel limits does not eliminate disturbance for some residents.
Council and residents pressed staff on corrections and next steps. Councilmembers and several residents asked for independent third‑party acoustic verification, public release of monitoring methodology and data, and clearer public scheduling so neighbors know when night training will occur. Staff said some complainants had remained anonymous—which limited in‑home readings early on—but that several residents had accepted offers to permit on‑site interior monitoring. The Castle board and the police department committed to posting every planned live‑fire session on the Castle website and republishing notices on the police page.
Mitigation options under consideration include additional sound absorbers, landscaping and berms, subsonic ammunition where operationally feasible, and further building construction (including a roof) as costs allow. Staff said they will: (1) pursue independent verification of the baffling performance and decibel data; (2) continue outreach to complainants to collect interior readings; and (3) report back to council with findings and cost estimates for additional mitigation. Major Myers emphasized the obligation to train officers for nighttime operations but said the department wants to be a better neighbor.
What was not decided: Council did not adopt any new restrictions on Castle operations at the May 28 meeting; staff committed to follow‑up testing, outreach and more transparent scheduling.
