New Regional Police Academy Set to Break Ground at Garden City Town Center

Nov. 19, 2009 - PRLog -- GARDEN CITY, Ga. – The new Georgia Public Safety Training Center Regional Police Academy, which serves as a training center for coastal Georgia law enforcement officers, will officially break ground at the Garden City Town Center on Tuesday, December 1, 2009. New South Construction serves as the general contractor for the $1.4 million project.

The 10,500-square-foot building, which will replace a training facility that is currently being leased at Armstrong Atlantic State University, will open in Summer 2010. The Regional Police Academy provides required certification training for new law enforcement officers in a 19-county region.  

“We think we’ll make good neighbors for Garden City,” said Dale Mann, director of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. “We’re really looking forward to this exciting new facility to train police officers from across the region.”

The Regional Police Academy will feature two large classrooms as well as a multi-purpose room for defensive tactics instruction and physical training. The Academy will offer 10-week basic training sessions for new police officers, with classes ranging from Warrant Application to Constitutional Law. The facility can accommodate 60 rising law enforcement officers.

“This facility will bring in welcome activity to the Garden City Town Center,” said Brian Johnson, City Manager for Garden City. “It’s a great civic use for this property. The Regional Police Academy will provide an important public service that will benefit Chatham County and coastal Georgia.”

The land where the Regional Police Academy will be constructed was once home to the former Department of Motor Vehicles office and Georgia State Patrol post on Dean Forest Road, both of which have been closed for many years. The site was contaminated by benzene from leaking underground gasoline tanks that were previously used to fuel Georgia State Patrol police cars. In 2008, Garden City took steps to remediate the site, which is expected to be certified as a brownfield in December.



“We’re delighted to welcome the Regional Police Academy to the Garden City Town Center,” said Johnson. “This is one of several exciting tenant announcements we plan to make in the coming months.”

ABOUT GARDEN CITY:

Located in the heart of Chatham County, Garden City stands apart as one of the leading municipalities in coastal Georgia. Featuring a progressive blend of industry and small business, Garden City boasts a rich history, friendly neighborhoods, vibrant economy and quality services for residents. Originally founded in 1939, Garden City has the distinction of being the second largest municipality in the state of Georgia with no property taxes. Defined by responsive, visionary leadership, Garden City is currently building an innovative mixed-use Town Center near I-16, which will serve as the new home of the municipality’s City Hall. For more information about Garden City, please call 912.966.7777 or visit www.gardencity-ga.gov online.

# # #

At Abshire Public Relations, we are quietly building a successful PR and marketing firm by meeting our clients’ dynamic media needs, integrating strategic business development activities and providing amazingly efficient in-house support.