The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Training Center and Weapons Range Complex is located on a 84 acre tract of land which was donated to the department by BASF.

 

Work began on the project in the mid 1980's and the firing ranges were put into operation in 1990. The building, which houses the Training Division offices and classroom, was dedicated on January 26, 1994.

 

Currently, a full-time training staff of four officers is housed at this location. All departmental training is coordinated at the training center, as well as the operation of the department's Crisis Response Team (SWAT).

 

 

 

 

 

Weapons Range Complex

 

In addition to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Department, approximately twenty local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies conduct their firearms or tactical training at this site.

 

Use of the weapons ranges are made available to the citizens of the parish on a regular basis.

 

The two rifle ranges are open to the public year-round on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Additionally, prior to the opening of deer season each year, the range is opened for additional days so that hunters can safely sight-in their hunting rifles. All shooting during these days is conducted under the supervision of sheriff's department personnel.

 

New Training Center - Currently Under Construction

 

 

Under the leadership of Sheriff Jeff Wiley, the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Department began construction of its state-of-the-art, multi-use Training Center in May of 2010. The projected opening of the new facility is April of 2011.

 

Located off of St. Landry Road, across from the Lamar Dixon Expo Center, the center will encompass over 30,000 square feet under roof. In addition to classroom facilities, the Center will contain administrative offices for the training staff, an emergency operations center to better respond to natural and man-made disasters, a logistics area for storage and distribution of supplies during emergency events, a covered storage area for all department emergency response vehicles and equipment, as well as storage for the department's Crisis Response Team's equipment.