Honor ★ Integrity ★ Service

Calling it the future of law enforcement in Ocean County, members of the Board of Commissioners joined with Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy, Little Egg Harbor Township officials and a host of representatives from law enforcement throughout Ocean County to recognize the county’s newest law enforcement training center.

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Training Center, Route 539, Little Egg Harbor Township, opened its doors earlier this year in response to law enforcements’ growing concerns over the availability of firing ranges needed to host training and qualifications for law enforcement in Ocean County. Formerly Shooters Sporting Center, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners moved forward with plans to acquire the facility which sits on 26 acres in late 2023 when it went on the market to take advantage of its two indoor firing ranges and two outdoor, a number of multipurpose rooms and a large classroom area.

Future plans for the Training Center include using the multipurpose rooms for state of the art simulation training programs for firearms training systems and also driving systems along with a program for active shooter scenarios. Outside, an area has been created for ATV training.

“The vision of what can be done here to help law enforcement will continue to grow,” said Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Gary Quinn, liaison to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office. “There are more than 1,400 law enforcement officers in Ocean County who need to make qualifications annually, not to mention 200 police officers who go through the Ocean County Police Academy every year.”

The majority of the Police Departments serving Ocean County municipalities have entered into agreements to use the Training Center.  A large classroom area is also proving beneficial for uses police departments, Ocean County agencies, U.S. Marshals and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Joining Deputy Director Quinn and Sheriff Mastronardy at the Dec. 17 event were Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Barbara Jo Crea, and Commissioners Virginia E. Haines and Frank Sadeghi in unveiling the building plaque and cutting the ceremonial red ribbon.