Press Release: City of Novi celebrates opening of
state-of-the-art Firearms Training Center
CONTACT: David Molloy, Chief of Police, 248-347-0504
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVI, Michigan, February 5, 2008 – On January 28, 2008, the City
of Novi dedicated its first-ever Firearms Training Center to the men
and women of the Novi Police Department and Special Agents of the
Drug Enforcement Administration who helped make the facility
possible. The state-of-the art Firearms Training Center was entirely
funded using federal drug forfeiture funds as a result of Operation
Falling Star. Construction of the $1.725 million Firearms Training
Center began in September 2007.
 Traditionally,
firearms training consisted of officers standing on the firing line
and shooting their weapon at a static target from various distances.
Their skill was measured by a scoring system that measured the
officer’s ability to "hit" a bulls-eye. This type of training was
conducted in a well lit, low stress environment and provided
officers with the basic mechanics of shooting. But to train an
officer when and how to shoot accurately, he or she must be trained
utilizing real world scenarios.
The new Novi Police Department Firearms Training Center boasts
the latest in technologies simulating real world scenarios. The
Firearms Training Center includes eight shooting lanes, remote
targets programmed to create a variety of training scenarios at
numerous distances, and two "running" targets that move
perpendicular to the officer.
Additionally, the new Firearms Training Facility provides
officers the ability to train without leaving Novi. In the past,
officers traveled to the City of Farmington range twice a month to
perform their firearm training sessions. This new facility ensures
officers are trained in their community, all the while being able to
respond on emergency calls, if needed.
 "We
were very fortunate to have this opportunity to construct a
state-of-the-art training facility," notes Novi’s Chief of Police
David Molloy. "With the approval of City Council, we were able to
fulfill our most critical training need and have the facility
entirely funded by Federal drug forfeiture funds as a result of
Operation Falling Star."
Operation Falling Star commenced on March 18, 2004 when the Novi
Police Department received a 911 call stating there was an incident
at Studio Plus wherein a female was fearful occupants of a hotel
room had been harmed. Officers checked the room and found no one
inside, but did find large bags containing an enormous amount of US
currency. Information gained from this search led investigators to
another location in Northville. Three additional bags containing
multiple bundles of US currency were found. Three suspects were
taken into custody from Texas and Mexico and were charged with
Conspiracy to Launder Money and Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana.
For nearly two years, officers from the Novi Police Department
worked with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration to
dismantle one of the largest international narcotic trafficking
organizations. Their efforts resulted in the seizure of more than
$15 million in narcotics proceeds and confiscation of nearly 25,000
pounds of marijuana.
Department of Justice Federal Forfeiture guidelines mandate a
certain percentage of the forfeiture funds are donated to the
community for drug and crime prevention. As a result of Operation
Falling Star, the City of Novi received nearly $6.5 million in
Federal Forfeiture funds.
In addition to appropriating the funds to completely construct
the Firearms Training Center, the Novi City Council also designated
the funds to enhance several Novi Police Department initiatives,
including the addition of new Police Officers, patrol vehicles,
in-car digital cameras, financial management software, new computers
and laptops for police cruisers and enhanced emergency and 911
telecommunications equipment. The City of Novi was also able to use
the funds to pay off the Police Department Building bond debt.
The Firearms Training Center was designed by Southfield-based
Redstone Architects and constructed by the Garrison Company out of
Farmington Hills.
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