Crime & Safety

COD Unveils High-Tech Classroom for First Responders and Students

The 66,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will give students hands-on experience for work in the field as a first responder.

The staged a bank robbery Wednesday to show off the type of training that is available for students and first responders at the new $30 million facility.

“I learned a long time ago that you’ve got to give people hands on experience,” said President Robert Breuder.

And that is just what students will get at the new Homeland Security Education Center at COD’s Glen Ellyn campus.

The center is a mock city block, so instructors can manipulate scenarios, allowing students and officers to gain hands-on experience.

At Wednesday’s simulation, officers from West Chicago and North Aurora re-enacted an actual 1997 armed robbery that occurred in Hollywood. During that incident 11 officers and seven bystanders were injured. This facility gives officers and students the chance to practice potentially deadly scenarios they could one day face while on duty.

West Chicago Police Chief Lazaro Perez said before this facility his men and women would train for certain scenarios but usually in makeshift areas not in a state-of-the-art facility like COD’s.

“I think it’ll give them a superior training experience,” said Perez. “It’ll give them a lot more preparation for what they’ll experience in the street.”

Not only will students and officers get to use the facility but they will be able to use technology that was previously only available to the military. To practice firing guns the trainees will use what is called Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES), which is basically a high-tech version of laser-tag.

This facility will now be a main hub for the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, a group that provides police departments with continued training opportunities. According to SLEA Director Bill Lawler, at least 150 police departments from the suburbs will utilize this new 66,000 square-foot training facility.

“After you see this place, this’ll be the place to be,” said Lawler.

In addition to the mock city block, the center houses forensic labs, training for computer forensics, and a smoke room for firefighters to train.

And for this coming school year COD officials said enrollment numbers are up by 13 percent from last year.

Currently, 1318 students are enrolled in the criminal justice program; 101 students in the EMT program; and 46 students in paramedic training. Officials did not say if this was because of the facility but President Breuder did say this is likely the only facility for this type of training in the Midwest.


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