Marietta outlines new police training facility and warns state academy doubled to 20 weeks
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Summary
City staff previewed a modular police training building on Sawyer Road and the police chief said the initial academy requirement increased from 11 to 20 weeks as of January 2025, lengthening the time to field new officers.
Marietta's agenda‑review session included a presentation on a new police training facility on Sawyer Road and a discussion of how state training changes are affecting staffing timelines.
Staff showed drone footage of the building under construction and the police chief described planned uses: "to do a lot of tactical training in that building, things that we can do indoors as opposed to outdoors," including physical testing and modular configurations to support various exercises. The department plans a ribbon cutting when the building and the paved training areas are complete.
On staffing, the police chief said the initial training requirement to be a certified peace officer in Georgia changed in January 2025. "Prior to January 2025 the training requirements ... was basically 11 weeks. As of January 2025, it became 20 weeks," the chief said, adding that the longer initial academy improves skills but delays the time before new officers reach solo status. Staff said hiring certified candidates from elsewhere can reduce fielding time.
No formal votes were taken during the agenda review. The presentation also included an update that the department expects several new officers to be introduced to the city in the coming months as academy graduates and recruits complete firearms testing and related requirements.
