BLOOMING GROVE -- Two months to the day after a deadly shooting at a state police barracks, the place is now open again to the public.
It was on the night of September 12 when police say Eric Frein shot and killed one state trooper and badly injured another outside that state police barracks in Pike County.
The Blooming Grove barracks on Route 402 was a crime scene for days after that ambush in September, then it remained closed to the public.
Troopers say windows and tiles in the lobby were replaced and Wednesday morning, we got our first up close look at the area where investigators believe those shots came from.
State police now say they're back in business at Blooming Grove but things will never be the same.
"We said all along we're going to work to find what our new normal is here."
State police stood just feet away from where two of their own came under fire two months ago at the Blooming Grove barracks, their home base.
Ever since the deadly ambush and the ensuing seven-week manhunt for Eric Frein, the barracks has gone from crime scene to just partly open for investigators, and now, back open to the public.
"It was a long ordeal, but I cannot say enough about the mettle of law enforcement to see it through," said Lt. Chris Paris, Pennsylvania State Police.
Station commander Lt. Chris Paris says there are already tributes here to Corporal Bryon Dickson, killed in the doorway of the barracks at the hands of a sniper.
"He will always have locker here. His mailbox will remain here. He will always be a part of our family."
The wooded area across the road from the Blooming Grove barracks is where state police say Eric Frein set up the night of September 12, taking four shots at the door at shift change at PSP Blooming Grove.
This is where the investigation and manhunt started. Orange paint and evidence markers still remain in the woods.
For seven weeks, the search went throughout Pike and Monroe Counties looking for Eric Frein.
Late last month, law enforcement got their man and brought Frein to the barracks before he was taken to the Pike County jail.
So far, state police say in addition to Trooper Douglass who's expected to undergo more surgeries at a hospital in New York City, two other employees have not come back to work yet.
"As you can imagine, our people dealt with some horrific sights the night of the attack. We're working with them to ensure they're fully prepared to return to work as troopers or police communications operators," said Lt. Col. George Bivens, Pennsylvania State Police.
State police say they've looked into what additional security can be put in place to make the barracks safer for troopers on the job.
Troopers say nothing could have prevented the attack two months ago.
"We've done a thorough analysis of security at this station. There are a number of improvements we've made and others that are in process now that in the coming weeks that will become evident to people here. What I will tell you is that analysis did not produce any security measures that could have fully prevented this incident," said Lt. Col. George Bivens.
According to police, the cost of the manhunt should be known soon but lt. Col. Bivens estimates it to be as much as $12 million.
For the past two months, all the calls to the Blooming Grove barracks have gone through the barracks in Honesdale but on Wednesday morning, an employee answered our call saying it's a step toward getting life back to normal at Blooming Grove.
As for Eric Frein, state police have not said much more about the investigation but the warden at the Pike County lockup says Frein has had family and his attorneys visit him.
Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty in the case.
