LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A training facility that will better prepare law enforcement for any future disasters is one step closer to completion.
On Friday, the fourth anniversary of the 1 October shooting, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first building of the soon-to-be Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Reality Based Training Center marked a milestone for the project.
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Tom Kovach, the executive director of the LVMPD Foundation, says reality-based tactical training will better prepare the agency for any future disasters.
“When it comes to protecting themselves and protecting the public, we know that real-life experiences are the best training we can give them,” Kovach explained. He says the facility will offer some of the nation’s most sophisticated and highly technical training.
The training center is expected to be open on Jan. 15, 2022, and inside it will have classrooms, simulators and equipment dispensaries.
Kovach says law enforcement will be better equipped and trained as they prepare for another scenario like 1 October and other disasters.
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“This facility is going to mean the safety of the public," said Kovach. "The 40 million visitors to us every year is only going to increase, people should feel safer coming to Vegas because of this facility and the training that will take place in it."
The training center will have a climate-controlled training village with simulated venues, such as gas stations, convenience stores, casinos, banks and sports venues.
Andrew Locher with LVMPD says the training that will take place in this facility will set our law enforcement apart from the rest.
“The reason that we need that type of programming, that quick programming is to reflect incidents that we see within our community and within the nation,” said Locher.
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Tom Kovach says we are an island when it comes to law enforcement. Other larger cities have support from surrounding areas and cities, but he says that is not the case in the Las Vegas valley.
“We need to make sure that we provide our officers and other first responders with the best realistic scenarios possible so they can respond to incidents both large and small,” Kovach said.
1 October was a disaster that law enforcement never wants to face again but the new facility will help officers know exactly what to do.
Those looking for support can call the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center at (702) 455-2433 or visit their website VegasStrongRC.org.
