BPD uses facility to train

Midwestern law enforcement agencies utilize Bloomington’s multi-million dollar, state-of-the art police training facility to train in SWAT and non-tactical operations.

“We get people from all over the Midwest region,” said Sgt. Scott Oldham of BPD, and he included police departments from Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky as some that have used the facility.

The Plainfield Police Department, located on the west side of Indianapolis, is one of the many agencies using the Bloomington facility.

“We are always looking for good training outside our agency,” said Capt. Carrie Weber, a 10-year veteran of the department. “There is not a lot of organized SWAT training throughout the state, and Bloomington is the closest SWAT school around.”

The facility is located on the south side of Bloomington and was first employed in 2008.

“The range is completely rifle capable,” said Sgt. Mick Williams of BPD. “Filters recycle the air in the range every 90 seconds so you can shoot standard ammunition without any health hazards.” Williams coordinates all of the training at the facility and regulates the general training for the department.

The rifle range includes computerized moving targets, as well as a garage door, which allows SWAT teams to bring vehicles inside the shooting area for life-like tactical situations. The fire tower is a supplement to the location. 

“The fire tower’s primary use is for the fire department, but it is a great use for us,” Oldham said. Inside the tower’s flame-resistant interior, departments can insert fog machines or set furnishings aflame to make the controlled environment seem as real as possible.

Before the current facility’s existence, BPD would go to Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department to complete firearms training. Although it gave a certain amount of training prior to 2008, it did not instruct law-enforcement agencies to the extent it does now.

“Now, if an organization wants to come in and train with us, we can do just about anything down at the training center,” Williams said. Classes are generally held two to three weeks out of any given month, he said.

“SWAT is one part we do run, but we teach a variety of classes,” Williams said.
Other classes include Field Training Office certification and Crisis Intervention Team training.

Last year, BPD hosted The Department of Homeland Security for a planning class, as well as the Indiana chapter of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

“About 75 agencies have come in and trained at our training facility. ... We have lot of repeats, a strong indication that we give strong, quality training,” Williams said.