Bridgeport is scrapping plans to build a police training facility and shooting range across the street from an elementary school.
Mayor Bill Finch said the city will look into other locations. "After hearing such strong concerns from the parents," Finch said in a statement, "we have decided to seek alternate sites in the city for the indoor shooting range, and all potential new sites will be in non-residential areas away from school buildings."
The Connecticut Post reports that Finch was criticized by more than 70 parents who "berated" Finch for not consulting them on the initial plan. Finch said, "The police met with neighborhood stakeholders – residents and business owners – and received a lot of positive feedback about the project. Clearly, the police department should have reached out to parents sooner."
The city is receiving $850,000 in federal grants to build a police training facility.
