Gun Laws And 2a
Clark County weighs future of Camp Bonneville after FBI exit
Clark County weighs future of Camp Bonneville after FBI exit
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Clark County, Washington
The future of Camp Bonneville has come into question following the FBI's departure from the site, which had been a hub for firearms training. Once a 3,840-acre U.S. Army training facility, now a point of contention, the camp has been used by various law enforcement agencies, but recent events have raised critical questions about its viability and safety as a training ground.
The county council faces immediate decisions regarding the continued use of Camp Bonneville by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the regional Metro Explosives Disposal Unit (MEDU). This comes after the FBI's contract was terminated in August, mainly due to the theft of 12,000 rounds of ammunition stored on-site earlier this year, which has put a spotlight on security practices and the site's overall safety.
Historically, Camp Bonneville served as a live-fire training site for the Army until its closure in 1995. Since its transfer to Clark County in 2006, the property has faced a challenging and lengthy cleanup process due to the presence of unexploded ordnance and hazardous materials. The council noted that cleanup efforts have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the site’s future will be heavily influenced by what further remediation work is needed.
During a recent council meeting, residents voiced concerns that the presence of training activities at Camp Bonneville contradicts the promised vision of the area as public parkland. Public comments highlighted fears that maintaining a shooting range and storing explosives are dangerous and detrimental to community safety. Local resident Patty Reynolds was particularly vocal, asserting, "It’s time to remove all explosives and deny future access of SWAT, ATF, and the MEDU as they continue to delay, clean up and exploit county land without regulation nor payments."
This sentiment was echoed by County Chair Sue Marshall, who expressed a desire to transition the area into more of a public park post-cleanup, stating, "I think in the public’s mind this is a natural area, this is a park, so that leads me to think ultimately these uses should be phased out."
For the time being, the council has agreed to a two-year contract for SWAT training but emphasized the necessity of environmental protections and financial commitments. Meanwhile, the ATF's continued storage of explosives at the site remains under scrutiny, and there are uncertainties regarding the MEDU's ongoing activities, given their less frequent use of the camp in recent years.
The FBI previously had a contract that mandated they pay for remediation, yet the county staff suggested it would be nearly impossible to differentiate between damages caused by their usage versus other agencies like the sheriff's office. This uncertainty is compounded by the recent security failure that led to the large-scale theft of ammunition, raising alarms about the camp’s ability to securely house dangerous materials.
Sheriff John Horch acknowledged these challenges but highlighted the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with the FBI for ongoing law enforcement collaborations. “I don’t think you’d be able to determine the FBI versus CCSO SWAT. It would be impossible,” he noted, advocating for the FBI to have a chance to present their case if closure is considered.
Marshall and the council emphasized the risk of keeping hazardous materials in a location that has already seen significant security breaches. As discussions continue, understanding the path forward for both training operations and the ecological restoration of Camp Bonneville remains a top priority.
The future of Camp Bonneville illuminates a broader question facing many communities: the balance between law enforcement training, public safety, and community demands for open spaces. With security concerns over stolen ammunition, it's imperative that local authorities provide clarity on how they will manage hazardous materials. As community discussions progress, stakeholders must navigate the path between necessary law enforcement training and public health and safety. Early signals suggest a push towards repurposing the site, but the timeline and feasibility remain uncertain. This issue's outcome could have long-lasting implications for similar training sites across the nation.