The Fox Valley Technical College Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) is celebrating 10 years of service this month, marking a decade of preparing the next generation of public safety professionals.
The 80-acre complex was designed to serve both degree-seeking students and provide continuing education and advanced training to public safety professionals in the field. Planning began in 2005, and with the approval of a district-wide referendum in 2012, the $34.5 million facility opened in January 2015.
“We have been blessed by our community and their support in building the PSTC,” says John Sorenson, dean of Public Safety. “We built a comprehensive and unique training center. Our Fire, EMS, Forensic Science and Criminal Justice students collaborate almost on day one because that is something that in reality, they will see when they are out on the force.”
The facility offers extensive hands-on tactical training, featuring an emergency vehicle driving range, indoor and outdoor firing ranges, an EMS lab and ambulance bay, a forensics lab, a jail training area, and six fire apparatus bays.
For years, the PSTC hosted three law enforcement training academies annually. Due to high demand from agencies across the state seeking FVTC’s training expertise for their recruits, a fourth academy was added in 2024.
“There is a demand for law enforcement officers across the country, and because we have this unique facility, and the instructors to teach, we’ve been able to increase the academy offerings,” explains Cory McKone, associate dean of Public Safety. “As we increase offerings at the academy, it means more law enforcement offices on the street, protecting the communities they serve.”
The addition of the ATW ARFF Training Center in 2020 established a premier facility for aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) training. The facility attracts airport firefighters from around the world and features a unique Boeing 777 Specialized Aircraft Fire Trainer and a Cessna Skyhawk training prop.
It’s estimated the construction of the PSTC contributed nearly $60 million to the regional economy. With its ongoing operations, it’s expected the facility will generate an additional $11.9 million in economic impact annually.
By the numbers: 10 years of the Public Safety Training Center
- 13,500 officers trained
- 3,233 intravenous (IV) started
- 2,300+ public safety graduates
- 725 ARFF students trained
- 30 law enforcement academies
- 30 jail academies
- 3 million rounds fired in training
- 1.3 million gallons of water used in training
- 4 countries/20 states represented by students trained
