Tuscaloosa police headquarters renovation features training upgrades

Tuscaloosa Police Department unveiled some of the nearly $5 million renovations to the headquarters building last week with an emphasis on the facility's training capacity.

TPD showed off a situational training area where officers can step into a video diorama and experience scenarios similar to situations they will face on the streets. The simulator reacts to the officer's handling of the situation, either escalating or calming the situation based upon his or her actions. It is one of several upgrades to the facility designed to help prepare officers for their patrol assignments.

A new gymnasium and training facility features areas where officers and candidates can work out and participate in various hands-on training exercise, such as hand-to-hand combat scenarios.

"It is definitely not a guaranteed job when you get hired. There are a lot of people with the physical skills and the mental ability but who lack the ability to translate their training to real-life situations," said Capt. Phil Simpson, the man who ramrodded the renovations plan through three chiefs of police.

Simpson said the training officers go through before they ever hit the streets helps weed out those who are not fit for the job. He said the training officers go through is a real safeguard to the public. Officers acquire the skills they need, but they also acquire the restraint necessary to be effective.

"One of our core values is citizens must be safe whether (from) crime, fire, medical response or an act of nature. Our response is swift and effective," said Chief Brent Blankley. "They (Tuscaloosa's City Council members) believe in this core value so much, they renovated our building. They gave our police department and fire department a new pay plan. They gave us a lot of equipment to fight cyber-crimes and we have new police cars."

TPD's training focus did not originate with Chief Blankley but has its roots all the way back in 1974 when former Chief Ken Swindle joined the department. His early experience as a street cop led him to emphasize training when he became chief.

"When I started in the police department in 1974, we didn't even have to go to the police range. We got hired and we had to go to Gaylord's or somewhere and buy a gun and they put us on the street," Swindle said.

"We had to go to the academy but there was no follow-up with it. As we went through and things were happening, we started building on that training. We wanted to have that officer ready no matter what they had to face out on the street so whatever they faced it would be just a split-second reaction to them. You can't get enough training. That's something that protects the community and protects the officers as well," Swindle said.

The building, which has been police headquarters since 1991, underwent a thorough renovation to the aging structure from the HVAC system, the roof and skylights, many interior upgrades and fixes, as well as the addition of technological advances to help police combat crime. The city also added a half-million dollars worth of cyber-crime fighting equipment.

Mayor Walt Maddox referenced a TPD officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2019 said during his remarks at last week's opening ceremony.

"Since Officer (Dornell) Cousette has passed, I've worn this wrist band as a reminder of my responsibility to every one of you. Part of that responsibility is to make certain we have the best officers out on the streets with the best equipment, the best technology and the best leadership possible," Maddox said.

The police chief said the renovated building represents a fresh start.

"When we moved out of this building, it was torn down. When we came back it is brand-new," Blankley said. "A building is a building, but it's about who is inside. It's about who has the courage to go out and help the public and fight criminals every single day."

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa Police unveil renovations to Police Headquarters