Nearly three years after breaking ground, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and the Department of General Services unveiled a newly completed outdoor tactical training area, marking the latest milestone in the construction of PSP’s new state-of-the-art Academy. The project will modernize the 68-year old campus.
“It is inspiring to see our vision of a state-of-the-art Academy coming to life that will provide our cadets now and for generations to come with cutting-edge resources and world-class training that best prepares them for policing in the 21st century,” said Lieutenant Colonel George L. Bivens, Acting Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “This project is a long-term investment to help the brave women and men who choose to wear the uniform to protect Pennsylvanians while keeping themselves safe.”
The new tactical training area, called a Callout Village, consists of replica homes, a business, and a place of worship. Each structure will provide cadets and other law enforcement personnel with realistic environments to train for real-life situations that they are likely to face in the field. From neighbor disputes to active shooter situations, the Callout Village will allow cadets to gain hands-on experience responding to emergencies, learn from their mistakes, and develop best practices for handling highly stressful, dangerous, and intense situations well before they graduate and become state troopers.
PSP also highlighted the completion of its new 25,000-square-foot Procurement and Supply Warehouse, which is set to open in the coming weeks. The facility will relocate operations from the previously leased warehouse in Harrisburg to the Academy, providing the State Police with a more centralized location for accessing critical resources.
“Working alongside the Pennsylvania State Police, DGS is helping deliver a world-class Academy that will support generations of troopers with the facilities, technology, and training environments they need to protect Pennsylvanians,” said DGS Acting Secretary Sandra Aguilera. “We’re proud of this partnership and the lasting impact it will have on communities across the Commonwealth.”
