(Texas Scorecard) – Millions in private donations are expected to cover a new Houston Police Department training center that will offer officers state-of-the-art preparation tools.
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.