Palm Bay City Officials Break Ground On Police Facility

By  //  February 1, 2015

Palm Bay Police Firearms Training Facility

BREAKING GROUND – Left to Right: Palm Bay Police Chief Mark Renkens; Palm Bay City Councilman Michele Paccione; Brevard County Commissioner Andy Anderson; Palm Bay Mayor William Capote; Rob Medina, Rep. Bill Posey representative; Palm Bay City Councilman Tres Holton; and Palm Bay Deputy Mayor Harry Santiago, Jr.
BREAKING GROUND – Left to Right: Palm Bay Police Chief Mark Renkens; Palm Bay City Council member Michele Paccione; Brevard County Commissioner Andy Anderson; Palm Bay Mayor William Capote; Rob Medina, Rep. Bill Posey representative; Palm Bay City Council member Tres Holton; and Palm Bay Deputy Mayor Harry Santiago, Jr. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The first step in creating a regional first responder training complex at the Palm Bay Police Department Firearms Training Facility, also known as “The Range,” began Saturday when the department joined with local, state and federal elected leaders in a ceremonial groundbreaking.

The groundbreaking took place at 10 a.m. at the range at the end of Hurley Road.

Last year, the Florida Legislature awarded the department $1 million to add critical training components to the range. The first phase includes a training simulator, a shoot house and a tactical tower.

The simulator allows police and other first responders to train for the most difficult real-world situations such as ambushes, active shooters, terrorism, and other critical incidents.

It trains them in maintaining situational awareness during extreme stress. The shoot house allows live-fire realistic scenarios to play out in an unfamiliar and changing environment.

ABOVE VIDEO: The Palm Bay Police Department is seeking state funding for expansions at the Range in order to create a one of a kind regional training facility for first responders in the Central Florida area. This video details the project.

Mark Renkens
Mark Renkens

“Collectively these components are essential in facilitating the most advanced training for first responders and we will be putting it to good use,” said Interim Chief Mark Renkens.

“In today’s world we have to be prepared for the worst things imaginable and it is absolutely essential to have the best training tools available.”

The tactical tower offers the ability to practice safe entry and exit into multi-story buildings. It also provides the ability for realistic training for high-altitude rescue, combat fire operations and officer safety drills.

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Construction on the new additions is scheduled to be completed by June of this year. As part of the state grant, the range will be available to other agencies coordinated through the Palm Bay Police Department.

Additional improvements will be made as funds become available.

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The tactical tower offers the ability to practice safe entry and exit into multi-story buildings. It also provides the ability for realistic training for high-altitude rescue, combat fire operations and officer safety drills. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

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