For more than 30 years, the Bethlehem Police Department has been using land provided by Callanan Industries to train their officers in shooting their weapons.
Last week, Callanan Industries donated the land off Old Quarry Road to the Town of Bethlehem with the intent it be used as a shooting range for Bethlehem police. A small ceremony took place on Friday, Dec. 13, after the donation was accepted at the previous town board meeting.
“We’ve become very fond of that facility because of its proximity to Town Hall,” said Bethlehem Police Chief Louis Corsi. “It saves us a lot of money in logistics by moving people back and forth from the facility, so in the long run it’s going to be really good for the Town of Bethlehem.”
Since the location has been used for so many years, much of the department’s equipment is already on site. Come spring, Corsi said he would like to see the space cleaned up and possibly purchase some new equipment.
Since the town now owns the land, the Bethlehem Police Department can apply for state and federal grants to help upgrade the space.
Corsi said Bethlehem is now one of only two municipalities within Albany County to have their own shooting range. Other agencies such as officers from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, the State Police, the Albany division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Secret Service sometimes use the facility for shooting practice.
Andy Stokes, a retired employee of Callanan Industries, said getting the land donated had been a pet-project of his for years. Stokes was invited to the donation event and took the lead on behalf of Callanan Industries.
“Since the company’s founder, Peter Callanan, first began the stone quarry on his South Bethlehem farm and was awarded the state’s first road-building contract, we have been members of the Town of Bethlehem and members of the Bethlehem community,” Stokes said. “We are proud to keep Bethlehem strong and growing, and a safe place to live and work.
The Bethlehem Police Department had originally been granted five acres of land to use during training. Callanan Industries has expanded the offer by giving the town 10 acres of land.
Corsi said Bethlehem police go through two training sessions a year. One is during the day, with the other one at night. Long rifle and special weapons teams use the facility about once a month.
Since the site was formerly a quarry, the entire location is surrounded by 100-foot high, stone walls. This gives the officers privacy while minimizing noise.
The site hasn’t been mined for nearly 70 years. It was originally owned by a company founded in 1923 to compete with Callanan Industries, but it was eventually bought by Callanan. After that, it was never used for quarrying again because of fears that nearby water filtration systems might be harmed.
The decision was finally made to donate the site because it’s an excess property that hasn’t produced stone in years.
Peter Zeh, Project Manager for Callanan Industries, said he was pleased the donation could finally take place.
“This allows the police department to make the site more useful for their purposes, so we’re very happy about it,” he said.