Planned public safety officer training happening at the Bernhard Center beginning July 31

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University’s currently vacant Bernhard Center is providing an advantageous opportunity for its public safety officers to train for emergencies.

WMU Department of Public Safety (WMU DPS) as well as the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) will use the center, which is scheduled for demolition, to hold a two-week scenario-based training experience for officers from Monday, July 31, to Friday, Aug. 11.

Multiple emergency vehicles will be visible at the Bernhard Center during this time, although no roads will be affected, says WMU DPS Police Chief Scott Merlo, adding that the dates were chosen because there is low foot traffic on campus during this time.

“The Bernhard Center provides the perfect condition for large-scale training, and we are grateful that the University is allowing us to take advantage of this and also extend this opportunity to KDPS,” says Merlo.

He adds WMU DPS has utilized other buildings that were either vacant or in the process of being razed for training in the past and works closely with other local agencies. However, they don’t often have the opportunity for large-scale, comprehensive training that the Bernhard Center’s vacancy provides, he says.

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