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Messenger photo by Laura Englehart
Pete Denlinger (third from left), president of the Big Darby Creek Shooting Range, donated two shotguns to the West Jefferson Police Department. Accepting the donation were (on left) Lt. Rodney Chenos, Mayor Scott Hockenbery and (on right) West Jefferson Police Chief Dennis Gates.
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The Big Darby Creek Shooting Range donated two new tactical shotguns to the West Jefferson Police Department Jan. 24.
The Big Darby Creek Shooting Range, located about a mile north of downtown West Jefferson on Middle Pike, is a full-service shooting range and pro-shop. The facility is certified by the National Rifle Association and by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Council as a training center. The site provides training for the West Jefferson Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office and London Police Department.
Shooting range officials decided to donate two new guns to West Jefferson after they saw the condition of the weapons the police department brought to a recent training. The shooting range also plans to service the old weapons and return them to West Jefferson.
“West Jefferson has not updated their weapons in quite some time, so taking care of their weapons is a real priority for them,” said Pete Denlinger, shooting range president.
The gesture will save the village an estimated $600 to $700, the cost of two standard shotguns.
“Anything we can get to help, helps tremendously,” said Lt. Rodney Chenos of the West Jefferson Police Department.
The shotguns will be mounted in the police cruisers and used in response to situations involving felony stops, such as a robbery or a shooting.
“They’re the most feared weapon there is,” Chenos said.
The police department also plans to update its sidearms this year.
