Staff Report / August 30, 2026
BATH – Local law enforcement officers and community members gathered this week to honor a long-serving officer whose vision helped establish a key regional training facility two decades ago.
Representatives from the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, the Bath Village Police Department, and the Bath VA Police convened Wednesday at the Bath Rod and Gun Club to officially dedicate the facility as the “Sergeant Lester Brown Law Enforcement Range”. Retired Sergeant Les Brown was presented with a commemorative plaque recognizing his decades of service and continuous leadership in regional officer training.
Key details regarding Sergeant Brown’s contributions and the facility’s history include:
- Facility Origins: In 2006, Sgt. Brown partnered with then-Steuben County Sheriff Joel Tweddell to apply for and secure a state grant to build a centralized, regional firearms training facility.
- Community Partnership: Brown collaborated directly with the Bath Rod and Gun Club to construct the range.
- Ongoing Leadership: Since retiring from active police duty, Brown has continued to oversee operations and management at the training site.
