On Monday, June 16, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and Nassau County Sheriff's Office (NCSO) hosted a Ribbon Cutting celebrating the completion of Phase Two of the Nassau County Public Safety Training Complex.
Phase One was completed in March 2021, consisting of a gun range and a temporary parking area. This initial $1.6 million investment was made possible through investments by the BOCC and from federal funds. Phase Two includes an indoor training facility that will allow for enhanced capabilities of Nassau County’s public safety and first responders. This $7.95 million facility was funded through a $5.95 million State Legislative Grant received by the BOCC, along with the use of $2 million in impact fees paid by new developments. The facility has several classrooms, a MAT room, a simulator room for practicing real-life scenarios, a fitness room, and a training room for 911 operators.
Monday's event began with an invocation led by Chaplain Arlie Johns, followed by the Nassau County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard and the Pledge of Allegiance. BOCC Chairman Hupp Huppmann began with a welcome message stating, "To the men and women of the County's Sheriff's Department, you've chosen a path and profession that requires a level of dedication and service that is unequal to anything outside of your ranks and qualifications. You've chosen a life of service, and we are sincerely grateful for your service." Chairman Huppmann explained how Sheriff Leeper's visionary leadership brought the training complex to where it is today, adding, "The Board of County Commissioners, through the Sheriff's superb leadership, believes this training facility will assist our public safety and first responders in keeping their skills sharp for decades to come."
The next speaker was Nassau County native and Congressman, Aaron Bean, who shared stories about his interactions with NCSO and his overall respect for law enforcement. He also expressed excitement about NCSO's ability to train here at home, stating, "What a monumental day for Nassau County! God bless the people who will train at this facility to save lives and keep Nassau County safe."
Last but not least, we heard from Sheriff Leeper. He began by providing a brief history of the overall Public Safety Training Complex, including future plans for a K-9 training facility and a training facility for fire and emergency medical services personnel. Sheriff Leeper expressed his appreciation to the Board of County Commissioners, both current and past, for supporting public safety. He stated, "A safe community is a great community. It's a place that people want to live, work, and raise a family. Nassau County is that place."
-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer