Tour Atlanta's new $115M training facility for first responders
Tour the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center
After months of anticipation and lots of controversy, we finally have our first look at Atlanta’s public safety training center. First responders say in most instances they had to train in other counties or at odd hours of the night because our city facilities were not adequate. A closer look at the $115 million facility that first responders say will allow them to better serve the community.
ATLANTA - After much anticipation, we are getting our first look at the state-of-the-art Atlanta Public Safety Training Center that has caused so much controversy.
Top brass with Atlanta Police and Atlanta Fire say the much-needed facility will open in the coming weeks. It includes horse stables, a K-9 center and a driving course, which includes a skid pad.
Officials opened up the $115 million facility for members of the media to tour on Tuesday afternoon.
This is the first time police and fire have trained together. This is an 85-acre site that includes things first responders have never had before, like a K-9 center. Right now, dogs are housed in officers’ homes.
The facility also includes resources Atlanta first responders have never had before, like a six-story rescue tower. The fire chief says the last tower built was in the 1950s.
"What you see behind us is a state-of-the-art six-story building. It is one of two in the nation. It allows us to stage tactical rescues. Those are the rescues where our members may have to tie off the top of the building, go off the side with ropes," Fire Chief Roderick Smith boasted.
Another important addition is the larger horse stables, which include 18 stalls and an important simulation area. That allows officers to replicate crises, like a school shooting, a barricaded gunman, or a domestic call.
"We have a two-story house, so we can replicate a domestic violence call, a lost child, barricaded gunman, to a person hiding that doesn't want to be apprehended. We've shut down over 60 drug operations in the city this year. Over here, we have a convenient store," Police Chief Darin Schierbaum explained.
The sprawling site includes a community walking trail around a pond, which was a direct result of community collaboration. The fire chief said officials met 19 times with the community.
"This spot is designated for the public. People can come and eat lunch or walk the trails," APD Chief Administration Officer Marshal Freeman detailed.
The community room, which is inside the leadership building, can be used for meetings. Of course, there is also an academic building full of classrooms.
The big question now is, when will the center open for training? The chief says it will open in the first quarter of 2025.
The Source: This article is based on original reporting by FOX 5's Aungelique Proctor.