Community members have requested a special Town Meeting on a proposed new police training range.

The petition states: “We the undersigned residents and homeowners in the Town of Dublin, NH are calling for a special town meeting. The purpose of this meeting is for the a town vote on whether or not to allow the proposed Dublin Police Training facility and further vote whether or prohibit the Select Board from expending town funds for such purpose, or accepting gifts of cash or services to do the same.”

Resident Molly Pinney said she gathered 146 petition signatures from Dublin residents to call a special Town Meeting and submitted them to the town Monday, June 26. She said a special Town Meeting is necessary to stop the Select Board from misrepresenting the majority of voters. 

“The petition gives power in the hands of the townspeople,” said Pinney. “The petition is to also put the [proposal] to bed so it doesn’t happen in the future. We don’t want this anywhere in town.”

According to Dublin Police Chief Tim Suokko, the proposal calls for a 150-foot by 60-foot training range, including a backstop and berm to catch bullets. The proposed site is on a portion of town-owned property off of Cobb Meadow Road, which is approximately 243 yards away from the closest dwelling.

According to Suokko, the proposal was brought on by the rising number of law enforcement incidents nationwide from 2021 to present day. According to a 2021 data from FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) program, approximately 43,649 incidents were reported of officers being assaulted while carrying out their duties.

More than 160 community members attended a public hearing on the proposal June 20, with the vast majority saying they were opposed to the plan. Pinney cited the proximity of the range to her home and that she has a baby, while other concerns included the town’s appeal for young families interested in moving to Dublin and the need for a training facility because of the small size of the town and department.

Comments in favor of the plan cited preparing law enforcement for an active-attacker situation.

In accordance to RSA 39:3, the next step in the special Town Meeting process involves the supervisor of the checklist verifying at least 50 signatures are from Dublin residents. Once verified, the Select Board would arrange a date for a special Town Meeting.