WESTBOROUGH – A long-standing issue with the Westborough Police Department’s firing range may soon be resolved, thanks to funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Just under $52,000 has been approved to remove lead and shell casings from the range, which is located behind the Department of Public Works on Oak Street.
Police Chief Todd Minardi initially submitted a proposal for $150,000 to fund the cleanup and install a new target system.
However, after some feedback from the Advisory Finance Committee, and being conscious of what taxpayers may or may not fund, Minardi decided to reduce the request to $52,000.
The range has been around for over 30 years. Making improvements to it has been a priority for Minardi since 2018. The Covid-19 pandemic and other issues have kept the project from going farther than the planning stages.
The funds will be used to have a company excavate the soil, screen it, reclaim the lead and other materials, and put it back.
“I want to be a good environmental steward,” said Minardi.
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The range has been used by several agencies over the years, including U.S. Marshals, diplomatic security and other police departments.
“There’s a shortage of firearms training facilities in Massachusetts,” said Minardi. “We’re fortunate to have it.”
Minardi said they are working on a contract, with a possible start in the spring of 2025.
As for the new targets, Minardi said he will seek funding from the Westborough Police Foundation and other sources.
Staffing
The department continues to deal with a shortage of officers, according to Minardi.
The roster currently stands at 38, with three officers in training at the police academy. Even with the additional officers, Minardi said they are still shorthanded.
“We are doing a hiring process within the next week or two to fill the vacancies,” he said.
Even at 40 officers, he said, “We’re short.”
Minardi said that based on a staffing study done back in 2019, there should be 44 officers on the roster. However, Minardi is reluctant to ask the town for additional funding.
“It’s a challenge for the town because of taxes, and the pressure it’s putting on citizens,” he said. “It’s a struggle to ask for more people, but I also have a responsibility to my staff to make sure they have proper support.”
Vehicles
As part of the yearly replacement of vehicles, Minardi is asking to replace two cruisers and convert another.
The department wants to keep a Dodge Durango, scheduled for replacement, in order to turn it into a crime scene unit response vehicle.
Minardi said the vehicle would be equipped with everything needed to process a crime scene. He said having such a vehicle would keep officers from having to search the station to find the necessary equipment.
The vehicle replacement is part of the 2026 fiscal year capital plan.
The department is also planning a pedestrian and bicycle safety initiative, which will roll out this spring.
