Leif Bromme – Secret Service MOU
On Nov. 3, the Collegedale City Commission unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow the United States Secret Service to train at the Collegedale Police Department’s firing range. According to Police Chief Jack Sapp, the Secret Service has already completed the necessary forms and will now be allowed access following the commission’s decision.
According to the United States Department of Education, MOUs are documents that outline interactions between two parties. They help to develop a mutual understanding of roles, rules and conflict resolution without it being legally binding. While it serves as a precursor to more formal arrangements, Assistant Police Chief Jamie Heath stated that the Collegedale Police Department will rely on the MOU in lieu of a formal contract.
MOUs are used to cement partnerships in many contexts, especially in law enforcement. Despite this, the city did not always require an MOU to use the firing range. According to Heath, the requirement was set after an influx of usage requests.
“With more agencies training here, it made sense to put clear protections in place for the city and to outline our expectations up front,” Heath stated in an email to the Accent. “The MOUs help reduce the risk of injuries and makes sure every partner agency understands the rules and guidelines for using our range.”
Timothy Kanarski, a Collegedale local, said he does not have an issue with the Secret Service utilizing the Collegedale Police Department’s firing range.
“As a first responder myself, I understand the proper training and necessity of having preparedness and the mindset of what could go wrong and how can we avoid it and how can we train properly towards it.”
“I know that [there are] a lot of people that have issues with certain aspects of training and other things,” he added, “but when it comes down to it, you can’t know how to react to something without training for it.”
Matthew Savino, a junior business administration major at Southern, also did not have a problem with the partnership.
“I think it’s fine as long as they keep it in the range,” said Savino.
Other community members did not want to disclose their identities but felt uncomfortable with the Secret Service training in Collegedale.
Though a local Secret Service presence may cause some concern, Heath explained that the process is routine.
“We can’t make a comment on whether or not another law enforcement agency is preparing for anything specific,” he stated. “What we can say is that their presence isn’t unusual, and there’s no reason for concern. Like every other law enforcement agency, they have routine firearm qualifications and training requirements. Staying proficient with issued weapons is just part of the job.”
Heath also emphasized that local ranges are often used to train federal agency employees, as compared to more centralized spots.
“Federal agencies operate all over the country, with offices in major cities across every state,” Heath stated. “It’s far more efficient for them to partner with state and local agencies, and that often includes using local facilities for training.”
According to the Chattanoogan, many agencies trained at the now-closed Moccasin Bend firing range, jointly operated by the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The site was closed when an archaeological study unearthed Native American Settlements. After the discovery, Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett began the search for a space to build a new, state-of-the-art range.
The search is still underway, and many of the agencies that frequented Moccasin Bend have now turned to Collegedale, according to Heath. Although the firing range has seen more traffic, he emphasized the benefits.
“In the end, these partnerships strengthen every agency involved and improve the service we’re able to provide to the public when it matters most,” he said.
