Long Beach city leaders and police officials onstage at a ribbon-cutting celebrated the opening of a new, state-certified Long Beach Police Academy, calling it a long-planned investment in training and recruitment that will increase the department’s throughput and prepare 'class 100,' the largest in department history.

"This academy is a once in a generation investment in public safety," Mayor Rex Richardson said, praising the facility’s size and its role in sustaining recruitment gains. Richardson said recent reforms, including voter-approved Measure JB to speed hiring, and a recruitment package that offers housing assistance and childcare helped the city hire roughly 200 officers over the past three years.

City Manager Tom Modica summarized the project’s multi-year development, saying the city signed the construction contract in 2023 and began work in January 2024. He said Measure A provided capital funding for the project and staff positions to support training. "This planning has taken a long time because as you see, it's a magnificent facility," Modica said, and officials cited a project cost of $33,100,000.

Chief of Police Wally Heebisch credited public works staff, project managers and the academy team for completing the site and securing state certification for an academy of this size. "This is our new Long Beach Police Academy, and this is where excellence begins," Heebisch said, noting the department’s long training history dating to 1968 when the city repurposed Rancho Esperanza as the first permanent academy.

Officials described the campus as a permanent, modern training facility sized to train 100 officers at a time to sustain a pipeline of recruits. Commander Mike Richens, who led the ceremony, recognized partner agencies, the Long Beach Police Officers Association and community participants, and welcomed the honor guard and a Wilson High School student who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The ceremonial program included an invocation from Pastor David Zaid and remarks from Councilmember Daryl Supernaw, whose district houses the facility. The event concluded with a countdown and ribbon cutting led by city and police leaders, after which officials said the academy will begin hosting recruits in the days ahead.

No formal votes, motions or policy changes were recorded during the ceremony.