City police have officially opened their new training space at Lambton Mall.
The Sarnia Police Tactical and Academic Training Centre is located in the north end of the old Tepperman's store.
Chief Instructor Constable Shawn Osborne said word is spreading fast about the facility, which will provide officers and civilians with a safe and controlled environment for training.
"100 per cent there's already local interest here," said Osborne. "We're already in conversation with several agencies. What I'm excited about is that this is just not the Sarnia police facility. If Sarnia fire needs a facility to train, no problem. The paramedics, no problem, OPP's in the area, Bluewater Customs, Strathroy-Caradoc, Chatham-Kent... this facility is the only one between London and Windsor."
Osborne said he expects the training facility will also relieve some stress that's been placed on families.
"I'm really excited that we don't have to send officers away on a course. They're working families, moms and dads are both working, they've got kids, so to send them away for a week or two on a course, that's tough. So that piece right there, just that mental health component, that now they don't have to leave home and there's a professional facility that they can train in, it's awesome."
LiUNA Local 1089 and Kelgor Limited made significant contributions to the project.
LiUNA and its members helped purchase a simulation room that will help officers train in real-life situations, and Kelgor's donation helped purchase Kevlar training mats for the defensive tactics room.
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