Thomas A. Hontz Police & Fire Training Facility Renovation

Project Overview

First responders in Scottsdale will have new facilities to train at thanks to three bond projects that will replace, modernize and expand the fire and police training buildings at the Tom Hontz Training Facility.

The existing facility was built in 1995, is undersized, does not meet the national training curriculum standards and limits the type of training police officers and personnel can receive creating a safety issue. The new renovated training facility will accommodate the size of the police and fire departments and maintain pace with technological and legal changes within the law enforcement community. 

Replace the Deteriorating Vehicle Training Track at the Police and Fire Training Facility: Question 3, Project 26

This project will replace the Deteriorated Vehicle Training Track at the Police and Fire Training Facility to accommodate the weight of Fire Department Vehicles and Equipment. The current track was developed prior to the City having a municipal Fire Department and was designed for use by light duty vehicles, such as motorcycles and automobiles. With the formation of the Scottsdale Fire Department, the track is being utilized by larger and heavier equipment than the track was designed to handle. The track has excessive damage and constant repairs are needed resulting in training delays for police, fire, and municipal departments.

Modernize and Expand the Police and Fire Training Facility: Question 3, Project 27

The Thomas Hontz Public Safety Training Facility built in 1995 currently houses the full-time police training staff, a training auditorium, three classrooms, a nine-lane indoor shooting range, and an indoor live fire shoot house. The facility was designed to support 215 Police Officers.

Scottsdale now has 662 sworn and civilian personnel using the training facility and it does not have adequate space to accommodate scheduled training along with quarterly police modular training. This is mandatory police training, most of which must be held at alternate locations.

This project includes a stand-alone 5,000 square foot, two story training structure, relocating the live fire shoot house to a new 2,000 square foot facility and expanding the current ballistic range to 15 shooting lanes. The expanded training facility will provide adequate space for Police personnel to safely and properly received best practice training and continued education to ensure officers provide the highest level of service to the citizens and visitors of Scottsdale.

Build a New Fire Department Training Facility: Question 3, Project 38

The current fire department training complex is a mix of various training buildings and resources including a prefabricated training tower and building, converted mobile storage units, and a pre-transition portable classroom building that is at the end of its useful life.

The infrastructure of the current fire department training facility does not meet current National Fire Protection Association, Insurance Services Office and Arizona Department of Health Services recommendations for a contemporary municipal or regional training academy.

This project will replace the outdated building and structures with a new Fire Department training complex which would include:

• A 4 to 5 story Class A burn training tower, utilizing converted storage containers with ventilation props, forcible entry props.
• 1 to 3 story basic skills building in a strip mall concept utilizing converted storage containers, along with ventilation props, forcible entry props.
• An outside skills evolution area that would include hazardous materials props, technical rescue props, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting props.
• A 8,000-10,000 sq/ft building to include, but not limited to; conference room to accommodate 100+ people, break out rooms, 25 person locker rooms, bathrooms, physical fitness room, administrative offices, full kitchen and two apparatus bays.