St. Johns County Sheriff's Office highlights new tactical training facility, partnerships and award

Unidentified Speaker, a representative of the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, said the county’s Tactical Training Facility was constructed in 2024 and opened in March 2025. "The tactical training facility was actually constructed in 2024 and opened in March 2025," the speaker stated.

The speaker described the facility as a concrete building with "over 15,000 square foot of training space," and said the TTF is intended as a "one stop shop" where new deputy sheriffs fresh from the academy and specialized teams can train. "Our brand new deputy sheriffs that are just coming out of the academy, a place where they can actually train," the speaker said.

Facility features cited include close-quarters combat training inside the building, a rappel tower that faces the building's southern and eastern sides, and a long-gun range that allows multi-story firing drills. "We have a rappel tower that actually faces our southern border of the building and also to our eastern border of the building. And on top of that too, a long gun range," the speaker said, adding that SWAT snipers "can actually shoot from a multi story building, from a window, a doorway."

The TTF is also tied into a driving track to replicate scenarios such as vehicle pursuits that end at a structure. The speaker described a training scenario in which an officer follows a suspect to a building and uses the facility to practice entry and concealment tactics.

The speaker emphasized interagency use, saying local city police departments as well as state and federal partners can train at the site. "The partnerships we share with our local entities, the city police departments, of course, our federal partners and our state partners to actually train here with us 1 stop shop," the speaker said.

The speaker framed the facility as evidence of county support for the Sheriff's Office and its practices, saying "This county believes in us. They support us. They love the style of policing that we actually do here." The representative also noted the office received a "regional award for excellence in public safety," calling it a validation of the facility and programs.

The speaker said the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners — all five members — back the facility and public-safety mission. The remarks did not include details on project funding sources, operating budget or any formal votes by the commission.

No formal actions, motions, or votes were reported in the transcript excerpt provided. The presentation focused on features, training use, partnerships and recognition.