Council debates police gym and indoor shooting range in proposed municipal building

Eatontown’s council spent a sizable portion of the meeting airing public and internal questions about proposed police facilities in the new municipal design, including a police‑only gym and a four‑lane indoor firing range intended for routine qualification and training.

Architect Anthony Scalise described the gym as a secure, departmental facility intended primarily for police fitness and self‑defense training; he said the police area of the proposed building would be a separate, secure zone with checkpoints. Several council members and the mayor voiced support for keeping gym access limited to law enforcement but asked the administrator to examine whether municipal employees could have restricted access during certain hours.

On the proposed shooting range, the consultant emphasized the extraordinary technical and regulatory requirements. "Ventilation is critical with a gun range," the engineer said, and the design must meet Department of Corrections guidance regarding sight, sound and holding cell support for related police operations. Council members expressed support for an in‑house range because it can reduce overtime and outside travel costs for recurring officer qualifications, but at least one councilor abstained on a conceptual consensus vote, saying they needed more detailed information on acoustical engineering, shared‑use agreements and health impacts.

Why it matters: The police facilities affect operational readiness, recurring training costs and neighborhood impacts (acoustics and air handling). A decision to include an indoor range will require explicit engineering solutions, vendor alternates and likely added capital and operations funding. The council asked staff to compile more information and directed follow‑up briefings — including the police chief and the administrator — before a final decision.