Lieberman takes aim at shooting range

New Haven (WTNH) - Senator Joe Lieberman says there is a potential safety issue at the New Haven Police Academy firing range.

Folks who live by the range say the noise can be nuisance.

"Sometimes we hear a lot of noise, like in the middle of the day," said Aaron Cheeks of New Haven.

Alderwoman Katrina Jones (D-Dixwell/Newhallville) says she is aware of the problem.

"Especially when I get new constituents in the area and they're not aware of the gun range they immediately want to call the police and say someone is shooting in the neighborhood," she said.

But it is the police who are doing the shooting. And not just New Haven Police, but police from different towns, as well as the FBI, the ATF and the DEA.

"This is what we and the other federal agencies do. If they didn't have this, we couldn't build our own facilities. We work together, we train together, that's what we do on a daily basis," said Special Agent Steven Derr, DEA.

And because the federal agencies use the range, the city is looking for federal money.

"To build a new firing range that will have essentially zero sound and psychological impact on the neighborhood and will be a first-rate modern facility for all the law enforcement officers who train here," said Sen. Joe Lieberman.

Lieberman says he's already secured $225,000 for a new facility, but that's just a down payment for the $6 million project.

Mayor John DeStefano (D-New Haven) says the current facility is very limited for law enforcement officials.

"They need the opportunity to train during the day and evening, in different conditions. This is a facility that doesn't allow them to do it. The fact of the noise puts limitations on its use," he said.