San Diego to Pay Up to $4.1M for Private Gun Range Contract

City's outdoor police shooting range shuttered over lead contamination issues

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:35pm

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting the interior of a dimly lit, empty police training facility or shooting range, with warm sunlight streaming in through high windows and casting long shadows across the floor and walls.The closure of San Diego's lead-contaminated police shooting range has forced the city to rely on a private facility, raising concerns about the long-term costs and community impacts.San Diego Today

The San Diego Police Department's lead-tainted outdoor shooting range will not reopen, forcing the city to modify its contract with a private gun range in Poway. The new five-year contract could cost San Diego up to $4.1 million, more than doubling the initial $1.755 million agreement.

Why it matters

The closure of the SDPD's outdoor range has had significant impacts on the department's firearms training and certification programs, as well as potential environmental concerns for the surrounding Mount Hope and Fairmount Park neighborhoods. The high cost of the private range contract raises questions about the city's long-term plans for police training facilities.

The details

In 2022, SDPD's outdoor range on Federal Boulevard was shuttered due to lead contamination issues. At least a dozen officers filed workers' compensation claims for elevated lead levels, and there were concerns about lead dust exposure for nearby families. The city agreed to a $700,000 settlement with the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District over the contamination. Since the closure, officers have been training at the Poway Weapons & Gear private range, with the initial contract capped at $1.755 million. On Tuesday, the city council voted to amend the contract, more than doubling the potential payout to a maximum of $4.1 million through late 2027.

  • The SDPD's outdoor gun range was shuttered in 2022 over lead contamination issues.
  • The initial five-year contract with Poway Weapons & Gear was signed in 2022.
  • On April 7, 2026, the San Diego City Council voted to amend the Poway Weapons & Gear contract, increasing the potential maximum payout to $4.1 million through late 2027.

The players

San Diego Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that operated the now-closed outdoor shooting range and is contracting with a private facility for officer training and certification.

Poway Weapons & Gear

A private gun range in Poway, California that has a contract with the San Diego Police Department to provide firearms training and certification services.

San Diego City Council

The governing body of the City of San Diego that voted to amend the contract with Poway Weapons & Gear, increasing the potential maximum payout to $4.1 million.

San Diego Police Officers Association

The union representing San Diego police officers, which considers the Poway range a temporary solution and believes the department needs to find a permanent training facility.

City Life Church

A church located in the Mount Hope neighborhood near the former SDPD outdoor gun range, whose pastor is glad the range has been shut down.

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What they’re saying

“The answer is invest in these children in these communities right now, and you won't have to invest in police and shooting ranges later.”

— Dale Huntington, Pastor, City Life Church

“I feel like while we've not seen a lot of change, though it's been a great victory to see this shooting range shut down. For my children and for the kids who are trying to go to bed at night, it's been peace. It's been peaceful.”

— Dale Huntington, Pastor, City Life Church

“Jared Wilson, the President of the San Diego Police Officers Association, told NBC 7 Investigates that he considers the Poway range a stopgap solution. He said the union believes that SDPD needs to find a permanent answer to ensure training is the best that it can be to ensure public safety.”

— Jared Wilson, President, San Diego Police Officers Association

What’s next

The City of San Diego plans to conduct further cleanup of the former outdoor gun range site, including removing affected surface soils and encapsulating the remainder with an impermeable cover. The city has indicated the site will not reopen as a shooting range, but may be used for other police training purposes excluding live ammunition.

The takeaway

The high cost of the private gun range contract highlights the financial burden on the City of San Diego to address the lead contamination issues at its former outdoor police shooting range. This situation raises broader questions about the long-term planning and investment needed for law enforcement training facilities that balance public safety, environmental concerns, and budgetary constraints.