Sedona Police Department Police Chief Joe Vernier dedicated the department?s shooting range to a man he referred to as MML — the man, the myth, the legend — Officer Bill Blanchard.

Sedona Police Department Police Chief Joe Vernier dedicated the department?s shooting range to a man he referred to as MML — the man, the myth, the legend — Officer Bill Blanchard.

?Bill Blanchard has to be among the men I admire the most,? Vernier said.

During a ceremony March 21, Vernier and SPD Cmdr. Marlayne Hatler unveiled the shooting range?s new sign adorned with Blanchard?s name.

?I was a little taken back,? a humble Blanchard said. ?It was a nice thing to do. I appreciate it.?

Blanchard takes care of SPD?s range, located near the Wastewater Reclamation Plant west of Sedona, with help from other officers.

?I can guarantee you, I had lots of help out here,? Blanchard said.

Blanchard became an SPD officer in 1991. He initially worked as a patrol officer for approximately six years before moving out to the shooting range.

A former Olympic shooter, Blanchard trains officers while also maintaining the range.

?In a shooting range, everything eventually gets shot up,? Blanchard said. ?There?s always something to do out here.?

Agencies from all over the state, including federal agencies from Phoenix, come to Sedona to use the range.

Currently, the range offers training on stationary, moving and turning targets, and a classroom for instruction.

SPD is in the process of constructing long-range rifle stations next to the current range as well.

Vernier said expansion and improvement of the range stemmed from Blanchard?s vision of what it could be.

SPD built its shooting range approximately 13 years ago. The old range consisted simply of dirt with five or six shooting stations, Vernier said.

Today, pits outlined by berms and a plethora of targets create what some SPD officers said makes other Northern Arizona agencies jealous.