The new range is being built on the grounds of the Police Training Academy on Waipahu Depot Road. Work began two weeks ago and the job should be finished by April 2006, the city said today.

Police have wanted a range for their exclusive use for nearly 20 years. Having their own facility will give officers access to training 24 hours a day, seven days a week, police have said.

"Having our own firing range, especially an indoor range is important because it means that our officers will have more opportunities to train," HPD Chief Boisse Correa said in a prepared statement. "The department has waited many years for this facility and we look forward to its completion."

The new range is expected to easily meet the training needs of a 2,000-member force.

The range will be in a 22,325-square-foot building that will include 30 firing lanes, an ammunition storage vault, a weapons cleaning room and a weapons storage room.

Officers currently share use of O'ahu's only public shooting range at Koko Head. Law enforcement officers from federal, state and county agencies have access to the range seven days a week, but train primarily from 4 p.m. to about 9 p.m., said Mike Muramoto, range master.

"I think it will be a good thing for the police," Muramoto said. "I don't think it will affect us all that much. I've talked informally with police training staff out here and they insist they will keep using this outdoor range. They have to use some of it for rifle and outdoor training."