Putnamville State Police Post dedicates updated firing range

District Commander of Putnamville Post Daniel Jones helps dedicate an updated firing range Wednesday.

PUTNAMVILLE -- The Indiana State Police Post at Putnamville dedicated its updated firing range with a lunch and several guest speakers on Wednesday. The new range is the result of two years’ work and the generosity of many local residents and businesses.

“Clearly this was a cooperation that you don’t see everywhere,” Lt. Dan Jones, Putnamville District commander, said. “I just don’t think this could have happened without the willingness to reachout out to our neighbors.”

Forty-nine people attended the event catered by Hendricks Regional Health, which was also one of the donors.

Former State Trooper and Sullivan County sheriff Joe Fitch speaks to a group at the newly updated firing range Wednesday.

“We are in difficult times,” Yvonne Colpepper, representing Hendricks Regional Health, said. “This is our way to thank our law enforcement.”

Alison Beauchamp, representing Black Lumber, said, “We donate a lot, but we never got to see the drive behind it. It’s nice to see this.”

Other donors were Headley Hardware, Hassler Trucking, Martin Marietta Aggregates, Jason Hartman of FC Tucker/Schneider Realty, Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter, Cash Concrete Products, Parke County Lumber, Timber Arts, Indiana Department of Transportation in Cloverdale, Indiana Department of Correction Putnamville Correctional Facility, Republic Services, Kleptz Aluminum and Building Supplies, Wabash Valley Asphalt, No-Sail Splash Guards, Bowman Guttering and Mike Klein of the Indiana State Police (ISP).

Several donors chose not to be recognized, but donated funds totaled $15,000.

“Everybody I went to for help said yes,” Master Trooper Charlie Boller of the Putnamville Post, said. “On behalf of the Indiana State Police and the Putnamville District, I wish to sincerely thank all of our partners who were able to donate their time and resources to make this project a success.”

The idea for updating the firing range got its start two years ago during a conversation between Boller and Tim Tillotson, a retired Marine and firearms enthusiast. The two contacted Stan Knight, superintendent of PCF at the time, Director of Prison Facilities Dennis Taylor and ISP Firearms Instructor Jim Hayes.

Over the next few months the group collected funds, materials, services and labor to remove and replace old concrete, build a new shooting shelter with new long gun holders, fix drainage, relocate water lines, clean and lay new rock to walkways and firing lanes, pour new blacktop for the parking lot and install new picnic tables.

Current PCF Superintendent Brian Smith thanked Project Supervisor Cliff Henderson and all the PCF employees involved in construction.

The firing range is currently used by troopers and correctional officers for training and has always been a part of the ISP Putnamville District and PCF.

“It does me so much good to see a superintendent who cares about us,” Joe Fitch, retired ISP trooper, firearms instructor and former Sullivan County sheriff, said.

Fitch was in the ISP for 29 years and participated in several pistol matches, working his way to the top five of ISP pistol shooters and ultimately placing second in state.

“I’m proud to be here,” a teary Fitch said.

Other event speakers were ISP Superintendent Doug Carter and Putnamville Public Information Officer Sgt. Joe Watts.