STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Safety
AGENDA DATE: June 9, 2021
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): N/A
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
EXECUTIVE: Jon Fortune
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SUBJECT
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Authorize the City Manager to work the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of North Texas at Dallas to evaluate and identify sites on the University of North Texas at Dallas campus, or other locations as necessary, which may be suited to the needs of Dallas Police Department training activities and to report his findings to the City Council with a recommendation for further action - Financing: No cost consideration to the City
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BACKGROUND
Over the past year, as well as during the recent City Council retreat, there were several comments and suggestions by Council Members of the need to improve the Dallas Police Training Academy. As an emerging priority for the City Council, staff has been working to assess the issues and challenges of the current training facility and recently has had several conversations with the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNTD) about a collaborative opportunity to create a modern police training facility.
Prior to 1990, the DPD academy was located at Bachman Lake. In 1990, Dallas Love Field Airport expanded into the Bachman Lake area which required relocation of the Academy to a 31,050 square foot facility at 5310 Redbird Center Drive. At the time, this facility housed both the training academy for new recruits as well as ongoing in-service training. DPD currently leases this facility as the move to Redbird Center was originally intended to be an interim solution.
Shortly after relocating in 1990, DPD quickly outgrew this facility as the department substantially increased its hiring for sworn positions and both the number of academy classes and the number of recruits per class increased. In 2012, DPD expanded the operations by leasing another 27,067 square feet at 5610 Redbird Center Drive to house the in-service training programs. The current cost of both leases is approximately $1 million dollars per year.
A summary of issues and challenges related to the current training academy are listed below.
• The size of both facilities is inadequate to meet the current demand for training
• Parking spots are limited, and lots must be routinely cleared to serve as a track for conducting the academy’s pursuit driver training
• Insufficient storage for training equipment
• Insufficient number of water fountains available for recruits
• Insufficient locker room size and available showers, especially for the number of female recruits/officers • The facilities lack a dedicated break room
• Inadequate space to efficiently provide the academy’s reality-based training to officers and recruits
• Classrooms are too small to accommodate growing number of recruits
• Driving track does not resemble that of a real city roadway
• Lack of jogging track and field for required physical training
• Deteriorating conditions of facility • Breakroom, restroom and shower plumbing issues
• Weight room is too small for housing equipment and space is limited for training recruits
UNTD will identify suitable sites on the UNTD campus that will meet the needs of the Dallas Police Department, coordinate with the Caruth Police Institute to research best in class police training facilities and university supported academies, and conduct stakeholder engagement to: develop concepts and designs for the facility; ensure health, wellness, and resiliency are part of the design process; and inform the philanthropic community on the importance of this project.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
The Public Safety Committee will be briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on June 7, 2021. <https://cityofdallas.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9456443&GUID=77F35172-AF89-41A3-8539-1EC88FFAB652>
FISCAL INFORMATION
No cost consideration to the City.