Fairfield, Solano planning shooting contest

Fairfield, Solano planning shooting contest
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | September 11, 2009


FAIRFIELD - There could be a lot of gunfire in Fairfield come April and that would be just fine with local cops.

The city of Fairfield, the Fairfield Police Department and Solano County Sheriff's Office are working on plans for a law enforcement shooting competition to show off the city's new firing range on Clift Drive.

'Goal No. 1 is to bring revenue to the city of Fairfield through hotels and restaurants and attractions and No. 2 is to show off a real showpiece on the West coast -- that is our range,' said City Councilman John Mraz, a retired police officer who has been involved in the planning effort.

'People are going to come here and they are going to be so impressed (with the range) and they are going to talk about it.'

The Fairfield Police Department started the project on its own in late 2004 after failing in attempts to build a shared range with other Solano County law enforcement agencies. Originally envisioned to cost $6.5 million, the project cost more than $12 million to design and build because of pricey bids, design changes and spats with the utility company.


It has classrooms, an armory, 20 lanes of 25-yard pistol ranges, a 100-yard rifle range and a padded training room. The huge facility dominates the intersection of Clift Lane and Enterprise Drive.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.