The Salisbury Township Police Department recently completed construction of a firearms training range along Honeysuckle Road, providing officers with a local facility to meet state firearms certification requirements.

“Fortunately, we do not live in a community where police officers often have to discharge their service weapons while protecting residents,” Police Chief Donald Sabo said. “But in today’s world, our officers must be at the top of their game if they ever have to use firearms to protect lives and property.”

According to Sabo, the range has been in the planning and construction stages for about five years.

Much of the work was completed by the township public works department. One challenge involved obtaining enough sand to construct the range’s required backstop, Sabo said.

The Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission establishes firearms qualification requirements for certified law enforcement officers throughout the state.

Sabo said Salisbury officers must annually qualify with duty pistols, rifles and shotguns. Pending legislation could increase that requirement to four qualifications per year.

“The last time our officers had to discharge their weapons in Salisbury Township was in 2007,” Sabo said.

That incident occurred along Lehigh Street after South Mall security personnel alerted police to suspicious individuals near an armored truck outside the Bank of America branch.

Responding Officer Bryan Losagio, now a police sergeant, and then-Chief Allen Stiles approached the vehicle. One occupant allegedly put the vehicle in reverse and nearly struck an officer. Losagio and Stiles fired at the fleeing vehicle.

Authorities later tracked the suspect to an apartment complex on Emmaus Avenue, where local and federal law enforcement officers took him into custody. The suspect was subsequently convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to prison.

Earlier this month, police notified nearby residents that they could hear gunfire during training exercises at the new facility and that the sounds were not cause for alarm.

Sabo said the township-owned range will make it easier and more efficient to schedule officer firearms qualifications rather than relying on outside facilities.

“The facility is one more way to ensure the Salisbury Township Police Department has qualified officers on duty to protect and serve our residents,” Sabo said.