Chicago opens new public safety training center

CHICAGO — The city’s new Joint Public Safety Training Campus (JPSTC) received its ribbon cutting Wednesday four years after it was first approved by Chicago City Council.

The nearly $170 million project is billed as a state-of-the-art facility to “provide comprehensive, joint, best practice training for the Chicago Fire Department, the Chicago Police Department, and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications,” according to the city’s Public Building Commission.

The $170 million investment, which includes public and private funding, will go towards the Boys and Girls Club, two restaurants, a public plaza with public art and the training complex, according to the city. These will be added in different phases.

Its training amenities include community spaces, computer labs, classrooms, indoor and outdoor scenario training, an indoor shooting range, vehicle training space, and burn props.

It also has a replica village where real-world scenarios can be acted out.

The 30+ acre campus is located a 4433 W Chicago Ave. in the West Garfield neighborhood on the site of an old railroad yard.

“This is the kind of training our first responders deserve,” Lightfoot said.

“This training facility will hopefully put COPA out of business,” Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown said.

The complex has sparked some controversy in the past.

“This is not what Garfield Park wants or needs,” one resident said in 2018.

On Wednesday, Lightfoot said the center reaffirms the city’s commitment to investing in first responders.