Brick Police Undergoing Weapons Qualifying

BRICK, NJ — If you're hearing gunfire in Brick Township, police are urging people not to worry: Brick Township police officers are at the township's shooting range for their qualifying.

The police department posted about the sessions on the department's Facebook page, after residents hearing the noise from the firearms qualifying called police reporting gunshots. The noise is prominent for those living in the area of the Brick reservoir, police said.

"Normally everyone is at work and school, so while our officers are up at the range qualifying, not many people notice. Now that everyone's home, a lot of you are noticing," police said in the post on Thursday.

The qualifying for the department's more than 140 officers will be going on four to five days a week until the middle of May. There are four to eight officers qualifying at one time, and it lasts for one to two hours in the middle of the day.

"It kind of sounds like popcorn," the post said. "It is safe. We promise. We're here to protect you and wouldn't have a range that is dangerous to the surrounding community."

Every session is overseen by highly trained range masters, the post said.

"Continue to hang in there with the #SocialDistancing measures," police said, referring to the measures in place to try to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, which is the reason students are home from school and adults are working from home. "We're all feeling the crunch. But together we will get through this. After all, we've got the best community. #brickpround #brickstrong"

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