New Houston Police Training Center, Priced At $10.5M, Won't Rely On Public Funds
Construction crews are preparing to break ground on a new Houston Police Department training facility designed to bolster both recruitment and year-round officer readiness. The state-of-the-art complex, located near George Bush Intercontinental Airport, carries an estimated price tag of $10.5 million and will feature 20 100-yard shooting lanes, advanced safety systems, and immersive training simulations.
According to an announcement from the Houston Police Foundation, the facility is intended to further enhance public safety and officer preparedness across the department. Though the total cost exceeds $10 million, none of the funding will come from taxpayers. Instead, the entire project will be privately funded.
Houston billionaire Tillman Fertitta—President Donald Trump's ambassador to Italy and chair of the board of the Houston Police Foundation—contributed $2.5 million toward the project. The remaining $8 million will come from private donations. 'This project is a crucial investment in public safety,' Fertitta said. 'We're providing our officers with the best tools and environment to prepare for the challenges they face every day.'
Doug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers' Union, praised the development and emphasized its importance to the department's long-term success. 'The facility is essential to the continued growth and performance of our officers,' Griffith noted.
The announcement follows another major step forward for the department as Mayor John Whitmire recently approved a historic pay raise for Houston police officers. Base salaries will increase from approximately $60,000 to $81,000 per year. In addition, the mayor pledged to hire 500 new officers using the newly approved funding. The budget supporting both the raises and staffing expansion was officially passed and certified by the city council on Wednesday.
The training center will span approximately 44,000 square feet and is expected to be completed early next year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
a few seconds ago
- Fox News
Beto O'Rourke calls for Democrats to be 'ruthless' in pursuit of power, backs Newsom's gerrymandering proposal
Former Texas Senate candidate and failed 2020 Democratic presidential contender Beto O'Rourke called for Democrats to be "ruthless" in their pursuit of power and endorsed partisan gerrymandering. "We have to get serious. We have to be absolutely ruthless about getting back in power. So, yes, in California, in Illinois, in New York, wherever we have the trifecta of power, we have to use that to its absolute extent," O'Rourke told CNN "State of the Union" host Jake Tapper. The two were discussing a Texas proposal to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms to decrease the number of Democratic-represented districts in a process known as gerrymandering. The proposal, if adopted, could add up to five GOP-friendly congressional districts in the Lone Star State and President Trump has come out in favor of such a move. In response, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed repealing a 2010 state law which vested the power to redraw congressional maps to a nonpartisan independent commission once every ten years and restore that function to the state legislature. Such a move, which would be difficult to pull off politically, could allow his state to establish congressional districts on a partisan basis. "Gov. Gavin Newsom has talked about redistricting in his state. I think it's time we matched fire with fire," O'Rourke said when asked if he supports Newsom's proposal. "Democrats in the past too often have been more concerned with being right than being in power. And we've seen the Republicans only care about being in power regardless of what is right." O'Rourke's rhetoric surrounding the Democratic Party echoed remarks made by the California governor at a July press conference where he floated the idea of eliminating the independent commission. "We can act holier than thou, we can sit on the sidelines, talk about the way the world should be. Or, we can recognize the existential nature that is this moment," Newsom said. The independent commission's powers are enshrined in California state law, and Newsom will face an uphill battle in changing them. He has proposed two approaches toward subverting his state's constitution. One would be for the legislature to pass a law giving itself the power to redraw congressional maps mid-decade – a move that would likely be struck down by the courts – or to put a change to the Golden State's constitution up for referendum. The Texas Democrat also warned that Republican efforts to gerrymander could end up biting them in the "a—" because they run the risk of dispersing GOP voters and inadvertently putting formerly strong red districts in play.
Washington Post
a few seconds ago
- Washington Post
Trump's latest demand: Washington football and Cleveland baseball teams should change names back
CLEVELAND — President Donald Trump wants Washington's football franchise and Cleveland's baseball team to revert to their former names. Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday morning that 'The Washington 'Whatever's' should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this. Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!'
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump's latest demand: Washington football and Cleveland baseball teams should change names back
CLEVELAND (AP) — President Donald Trump wants Washington's football franchise and Cleveland's baseball team to revert to their former names. Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday morning that 'The Washington 'Whatever's' should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this. Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!' Josh Harris, whose group bought the Commanders from former owner Dan Snyder in 2023, said earlier this year the name was here to say. Not long after taking over, Harris quieted speculation about going back to Redskins, saying that would not happen. Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti indicated before Sunday's game against the Athletics that there weren't any plans to revisit the name change. 'We understand there are different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago but obviously it's a decision we made. We've got the opportunity to build a brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future that's in front of us," he said. Both teams have had their new names since the 2022 seasons. Washington dropped Redskins after the 2019 season and was known as the Washington Football Team for two years before moving to Commanders. Cleveland announced in December 2020 they would drop Indians. It announced the switch to Guardians in July 2021. In 2018, the team phased out 'Chief Wahoo' as its primary logo. The name changes had their share of supporters and critics as part of national discussions about institutions and teams to drop logos and names considered racist. The Guardians are the fifth name for Cleveland's baseball franchise. It joined the American League in 1901 as one of the eight charter franchises as the Blues. It switched to Bronchos a year later and used the Naps from 1903 through 1914 before moving to Indians in 1915. Washington started in Boston as the Redskins in 1933 before moving to the nation's capital four years later. Washington and Cleveland share another thing in common. David Blitzer is a member of Harris' ownership group with the Commanders and holds a minority stake in the Guardians. ___ AP sports:
