Round Rock city council approves construction plans for expanding public safety training center

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The Round Rock City Council green-lighted a $15.1 million contract with a construction company to expand its public safety training center on Thursday.

The center currently trains the city's police and fire departments. The expansion would add a new classroom building, new Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) track, a skills pad, a pair of sheds for housing training vehicles and equipment and a backup generator.

"That'll allow them to stay here and train," said Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan. "With the growth, you've got to be able to give them the tools that they need to go out and be successful to protect our citizens."

According to the city of Round Rock, population has grown over an estimated 17,000 since September 2021.

"I think in Round Rock, public safety is so important, our citizens demand that they feel safe," Morgan said. "Just having it here locally keeps everything tight and close, and it just makes it easier on everybody."

According to Round Rock Fire Chief Shane Glaiser, there are roughly 170 uniformed firefighters and 200 police officers they have working currently.

"We're now at a point where we're running two classes annually with a waiting list of individuals wanting to come to the class, but they fill up, and we can't get everybody in at the same time," said Glaiser.

That sentiment is shared by Assistant Round Rock Police Chief Willie Richards, who noted that officers must travel to College Station for high-speed driving training.

"It ties up time, and that means that we're either paying overtime or they're not in the field doing regular public safety work," Richards said.

Funding for the expansion of the center was initially approved by voters in a 2023 bond election. The expansion is expected to be completed early 2027.