Full Notification

CITY OF MERIDIAN
MEDIA ADVISORY: Wednesday, August 4, 2021
CONTACT: Stephany Galbreaith, Communications Manager, [email protected]
 

 
When: Friday, August 20, at 11:00AM
Where: Meridian’s Scenario Training Center (1185 E. Watertower St., Meridian, Idaho 83642)
Who: Mayor Robert Simison, Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea, Meridian Fire Chief Kris Blume, as well as others involved in the construction of Meridian’s Scenario Training Center.
 

The Meridian Police and Fire Departments will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for Meridian’s Scenario Training Center on Friday, August 20^th at 11am, with open house to follow. The new Scenario Training Center is a combined facility for Meridian Police and Fire Departments and features an indoor scenario village with multi-functional learning spaces. The faux streetscape includes buildings that accurately resemble residential living spaces and several commercial-style storefronts, equipped with real lights, providing first responders both variety and realism when training for scenarios. The interiors of all of the buildings can be reconfigured for any police, fire or medical emergency scenario and is a space with ability to hold multiple trainings simultaneously.
 
“This training center offers multiagency training to enhance and improve collaboration efforts across Ada County,” said Meridian Police Chief Basterrechea. “In the world of policing there is no such thing as a routine call and this building will help prepare our officers for what they could see while on duty with a variety of circumstances.”
 
First responders will be able to prepare and practice for dangers they might encounter in the community and instructors will be able to evaluate their ability to apply what they have learned in stress-inducing, realistic situations. Trainings will include non-escalation, de-escalation, advanced extrication, search and rescue, proper use of force, and coordinated responses for police and fire. These trainings are continuously updated to ensure accuracy and relevance to today's issues and are taught through classroom instruction and scenario-based training.
 
“This Scenario Training Center represents the value our citizen’s, elected officials, and we as an agency, have for continuing education for our firefighters,” said Meridian Fire Chief Blume. “It not only helps us to better prepare for calls for service to our community, but it is an investment in our firefighters' safety.”
 
Design of the project was completed by CSHQA Incorporated with construction management services provided by Kreizenbeck. Representatives from the company will also be at the grand opening.

This is a public event and those interested are invited to attend. Media interested in attending are asked to coordinate with Chief Basterrechea, [email protected].