FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2, 2013
CONTACT: Kenneth Diggs (DGS) 202.580.9361; [email protected]
Doxie McCoy (EOM) 202.727.9691; [email protected]
Rob Marus (EOM) 202.727.6853; [email protected]
(Washington D.C.) - Mayor Vincent C. Gray and other District officials today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) new Tactical Training Facility, located at 4665 Blue Plains Drive SW. The facility was constructed by the Department of General Services (DGS) on the grounds of the old MPD shooting range and is designed for training of new recruits and officers.
“This facility will help our police recruits and officers train to respond to emergency situations in settings that realistically recreate conditions they would find in our urban environment,” Mayor Gray said. “This is a crucial facility that will help our MPD officers keep us safe.”
The project included the construction of two new structures, the Gas House and the Tactical Village. The Gas House is a single-story, 1,000-square-foot structure that will be used to train officers and recruits on the use of tear gas, pepper spray and other MPD non-lethal ordnance. The Tactical Village is a 40 foot-tall, pre-engineered metal building that houses a realistic representation of an urban environment. It includes an entry street, a main street, a cross street and two alleyways. This four-block village contains five training modules designed to emulate different tactical scenarios that a police officer may face while on duty, as well as a four-story rappelling tower. It also included the renovation of an existing structure to be used as the administrative offices.
“Our new Tactical Training Facility will help us provide state-of-the-art training to recruits and continuing education for current MPD officers in an environment that closely simulates what they might encounter in the real world,” said MPD Chief Cathy Lanier.
“Our security teams face a daunting and ever-changing challenge, and this simulated environment allows everyone from new recruits to seasoned veterans to hone their skills,” said DGS Director Brian Hanlon.
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