BGPD buys Sherwood’s Guns for new precinct

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The east side of Bowling Green will soon have its own police precinct after city commissioners approved the purchase of a longtime local business property on Bryant Way.

The Bowling Green Police Department plans to turn the property at 940 Bryant Way, currently home to Sherwood’s Guns, into a new East Precinct.

Commissioners approved the purchase of the 2.35-acre property for $3.1 million. The building includes about 18,000 square feet of space that will house police personnel along with a shooting range.

Police Chief, Michael Delaney, says the move is largely driven by rapid growth on the east side of town, particularly along Scottsville Road.

“Over the past several years, the east side of town has experienced tremendous growth — not only residential but also commercial,” Delaney said. “The acquisition of this property will allow us to respond to calls more quickly and efficiently from that side of town.”

Right now, the department operates primarily out of its headquarters at 911 Kentucky Street. Delaney says traffic and distance can make it difficult for officers to reach certain areas quickly.

“If something happens and you’ve got a crew coming down Scottsville Road, you might as well get a helicopter,” Delaney said. “It’s hard getting out Scottsville Road, even with lights and sirens.”

City leaders chose to purchase the existing building rather than construct a new one in order to speed up the process and avoid construction delays.

The department expects to move into the new site as early as October. After the city closes on the property, the space will be leased back to Sherwood’s Guns for six months at $100 per month to allow time for the business to clear out its inventory.

For owner Sherwood Davis, the sale marks the end of a 24-year chapter in Bowling Green.

Davis says the city approached him about the property because of its size and location near developing areas of the city.

“We were approached by the city because of the size of the building and more specifically the location of the building, with access to the major areas over here and the new developing areas,” Davis said.

As he prepares to retire, Davis says the store has always been about more than just selling firearms.

“What I’m going to miss the most is the people interacting with the people,” Davis said. “We’ve had a family-friendly environment here, and we’ve actually had a lot of fun.”

Davis says Bowling Green has supported the business throughout the years.

“Bowling Green has been awful good to us,” he said. “We’ve done very well, but again, it’s the people we’re going to miss.”

Sherwood’s Guns is currently holding a retirement sale as Davis works to liquidate the store’s inventory before leaving the building later this year.