Dallas presents revised police training academy plan: UNT Dallas site plus separate public‑safety complex

City staff and Dallas Police Department leadership on Wednesday unveiled a revised proposal for a Law Enforcement Training Center that pairs a campus at the University of North Texas at Dallas with a separate public‑safety complex for vehicle and firearms training.

The updated plan combines classroom and basic‑academy functions on a roughly 20‑acre UNT Dallas site with a second, larger public‑safety campus (EVOC, tactical village, outdoor range) sited elsewhere on city‑owned land. City staff and architects said the two‑site approach preserves academic partnerships while providing the land and safety buffers required for reality‑based field training.

Why it matters: Council members and police leaders said a modern training campus is critical for recruiting, training and retaining officers and for meeting state accreditation and continuing‑education requirements. Council members pressed staff for clear cost estimates, procurement timelines and confirmations of state funding and lease terms.

Key elements of the revised plan

- UNT Dallas campus: The proposal describes a multilevel training complex of roughly 300,000 square feet on about 20 acres that would house the basic peace‑officer academy, in‑service classrooms, a multipurpose training center and a 1,000‑seat auditorium that could host graduations and community events. Architects described a secured campus footprint with a shared public plaza and separate controlled entries for recruits and the public.

- Public‑safety complex: A separate site (feasibility study to begin in May) would include an emergency vehicle operations course (EVOC), a simulated tactical village for building entries and realistic scenario training, and an outdoor firearms range. City staff said those functions generally require more acreage and stand‑alone safety buffers than are practical on a university campus.

- Timeline and next steps: Staff plans a feasibility study for the public‑safety complex to begin in May, a master plan and parallel design work, and a target groundbreaking at UNT Dallas in fall 2026 with an opening in early 2028. City staff said the two sites will be delivered in parallel where feasible but acknowledged sequencing and funding will affect phasing.

Funding and legal arrangements

City staff reported more than $100 million in combined commitments and pending commitments: bond funds from Proposition F (voter‑approved bonds identified for public‑safety facilities), a $20 million state grant (with $10 million reportedly received), and additional state commitments under discussion. City staff said a 40‑year ground lease with UNT Dallas is planned; the city would own the improvements and be responsible for operations and maintenance.

“Getting recruits out of our current facility and into the new one should be the priority,” interim Police Chief Brian Igoe said. City attorneys are completing lease terms; staff said the lease will include protections and use conditions that preserve city control of the police academy functions.

Council response and concerns

Several council members welcomed the plan but asked for more concrete, independently produced cost estimates and clearer sequencing so taxpayers and private donors can evaluate the ask. Council members asked for the feasibility study, detailed cost projections and a public communications plan. Some members asked that the public‑safety complex and the UNT campus be delivered concurrently; others urged staging to get core training needs online as soon as possible.

Fundraising and partnerships

Fundraising partners told the council they have strong private interest but need an agreed plan and site to solicit major gifts. Jennifer Gates and Lynn McBee — private fundraisers on the project — said private donors have expressed enthusiasm, but that commitments depend on clarity of location and project scope; they cautioned that some state funding is tied explicitly to the UNT location.

Legal and operational notes

City attorney staff told council the planned ground lease will include long‑term options (initial 40‑year lease with renewable terms) and clarify that the city would own buildings and control operations. The draft agreement and frequently asked questions were circulated to council in advance; staff said additional legal review is in progress.

What comes next

Staff committed to a May feasibility study for the public‑safety complex, additional cost estimates from the architect and a funding plan that includes private fundraising, state grants and bond proceeds. Council members asked staff to return with firm cost estimates and a financing strategy before any construction decisions are finalized.

Quotes

“This facility will not only meet the needs of the Dallas Police Department for decades to come. I envision this site to be a partnership with UNT Dallas, being a premier facility that will foster research studies in law enforcement,” Chief Igoe said during the briefing.

Dan (HKS Architects) described a secured campus plan and said designers will pursue multilevel building strategies to fit program elements into the site’s topography.

Ending

City staff said the project remains a high priority and will return with feasibility findings, phased cost estimates and lease language for council review; fundraising partners said they will move forward once the council signs off on a firm scope and site sequence.