The Dallas City Council received an update on Apr. 15 about the planned Law Enforcement Training Center to be built at the University of North Texas at Dallas, as well as a second proposed facility called the Dallas Police Department Public Safety Training Complex.
The briefing addressed the need for modern training spaces for police officers in Dallas. The current DPD Police Academy at Red Bird is aging, and voters approved $50 million for its replacement in the May 2024 City of Dallas Bond.
According to city officials, a total of $96.5 million has been committed so far for the Law Enforcement Training Center project. This includes $25 million from state grants and $21.5 million from private donations, with expectations that private contributions could reach up to $70 million.
City staff outlined that construction on the new training center is scheduled to begin in September 2026 and finish by 2028. “There is strong momentum moving this project forward, and once it is finished, our City will realize enormous benefits, such as improved police recruiting, and a police force trained in state-of-the-art operations,” said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “The new training curriculum, developed in partnership with UNT Dallas, will ensure that our officers are skilled in community policing, as well as effective crime reduction methods.”
Plans were also presented for a second facility featuring an emergency vehicle operations course and firearm range. The estimated cost for this Public Safety Training Complex is $169 million.
During the meeting, council members requested more information about funding options for both facilities. Another briefing is planned for June 2026 where strategies to secure funds for public safety programs and these new training centers will be discussed.
