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Brownsburg chief outlines $15 million training facility plan and seeks forfeiture funds for specialty vehicles
Summary
Chief Joseph Grimes told the Brownsburg Board of Police Commissioners that the town is pursuing $15,000,000 in bond funding for a joint police–street training facility, and proposed using forfeiture funds to buy command, investigations and potentially an armored personnel carrier to consolidate equipment and support multiagency responses.
Chief Joseph Grimes told the Brownsburg Board of Police Commissioners on Feb. 10 that the department is in the planning phase for a joint training facility with the town’s street department and that town leaders are seeking $15,000,000 in bond funding to cover both entities. “They’re seeking bond funding for 15,000,000,” Grimes said, and the project may be done in phases, with a potential groundbreaking this fall and a phase‑one completion target in mid‑next year.
Grimes said the new facility would allow the department to consolidate equipment currently spread across five locations, house vehicles indoors, and provide dedicated interview and recording capability. He said the department is discussing phases to finish the project based on bond timing and future needs.
The chief also proposed purchasing specialty vehicles using nonreverting forfeiture funds, including a command vehicle, an investigations vehicle equipped for audio/video interviews, and, contingent on cost, “another APC, armored personnel carrier.” Grimes emphasized these funds are seized assets from federal forfeitures, not tax revenue, and said the town clerk and town council would need to approve any spending beyond current allocations.
Grimes framed the purchases as a readiness and officer‑safety measure: vehicles consolidated at the training facility would be deployable and provide ballistic coverage for officers on large scenes. He said training and multiagency coordination have been strengths in recent barricade responses and that consolidating equipment will support future deployments.
The commission did not take a formal vote on procurement during the meeting; Grimes said he will continue work with town staff and may reapproach the council if expanded approval is required. The department expects to keep the public updated as planning progresses and will not vacate existing facilities until the new site has the necessary capabilities.
