A new public-safety training center at
Luzerne County (Pa.) Community College is open

The Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) Regional Public Safety Training Institute (PSTI) enjoyed a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 25, 2008 to commemorate phase one of the training institute. 

The facility is situated on 34-acres at the Nanticoke, Pa., campus.  It will serve a 10-county region and is located at Luzerne, the largest college in northeast Pennsylvania.

A proud Scranton Firefighters Honor Guard, IAFF Local 60, and the Ceol Mor Pipe and Drum Band led the opening procession along with cheers from the hundreds in attendance as the Public Safety Training Institute was dedicated.  The Fire Arch was compliments of the Nanticoke City Fire Department’s ladder trucks from Luzerne and Columbia counties, along with the Reliance Fire Company #1 from Berwick.  Firefighters from neighboring states marched alongside.

The welcome was given by President Thomas P. Leary, president of LCCC.  Other officials in attendance were Luzerne County Commissioner, Gregory A. Skrepenak (who is a member of the Board of Trustees of the College, and chair of the LCCC Foundation Capital Campaign); House Representative (D-Nanticoke), the Honorable John T. Yudichak (119th Legislative District); James Wills, president of the Luzerne County Fire & Rescue Training Association; Dr. Karen Flannery, dean of Public Safety Training and Special Initiatives; and James Ellis, LCCC Fire Science student and PSTI volunteer.  The crowd swelled to include faculty, staff, administration, first responders from near and far, as well as regional residents.

Also there to enjoy the dedication and to realize the dream was President and CEO Bill Booth, of the Interact Business Group.  The Interact Business Group (IBG) was responsible for the business plan or blueprint for the project’s success.  Interact’s Plan included the long-term needs assessment, facility plan, daily operations plan and funding strategies. 

The facility will have the capability of training more than 4,000 fire fighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians.  The courses will provide the necessary hands-on training needed to handle emergency situations, technical field training, search and rescue, lethal weapons training, and emergency vehicle maneuvers. Students will work to develop the physical and mental skills that are necessary to make split-minute decisions and ultimately save lives.
Additional Phases will include:

• Phase Two—driving training pad, skid pad, more specialized training areas
• Phase Three—outdoor training areas and police shooting range
• Phase Four—permanent administration and classroom building(s)
• Phase Five—Hogan’s Alley, K-9 area, smoke house, forcible entry and other props

The project is slated to complete by 2010.

No longer will firefighters be sent as far away as Maryland to train.  Per firefighter Jim Wills, “We’re finally going to have a place where we can train properly.  We’re going to have lives and property saved.”

“After attending the dedication ceremony on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) Regional Public Safety Training Institute, I know that their dream has become a reality, and they should be very proud of their training center, as it is a crown jewel of the northeast U.S,” said Mr. Booth.

For further information visit the links provided in the text above, or contact Dr. Karen Flannery, dean of Public Safety and Special Initiatives at 570/740-0521; or contact the Interact Business Group at: 800/228-3710.