Forsyth County deputies will get a new training facility after county leaders voted to accept a donation of 17 acres in the northwest part of the county.
The land comes from Advanced Disposal, which operates the Eagle Point Landfill, and Sheriff Ron Freeman said they conducted a preliminary sound study on the land.
"We want to be good neighbors when we open this facility, obviously," Freeman said. "There were a few areas of concern with specialized weapons we have very few, as you mentioned, for like the SWAT team might carry. We have the ability of mitigating that noise with those types of weapons, if that becomes an issue. I"ll make a commitment that we will do that."
As well, building the new facility will save the taxpayers money, according to Sheriff Ron Freeman.
"We spend well over $100,000 a year just in additional costs to take deputies out of the county and we kind of have to beg and plead with other agencies when we're one of the largest sheriff's offices in the state," he explained. "We have no where to do firearms training."
He said the hours used for training will vary based on the needs of the department.
The agency also plans to offer free classes on law, self-defense and safety for residents.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2019/7/817393/forsyth-county-leaders-accept-land-donation-for-training-facility-for-deputies