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A new training facility for the Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy (NCLEA) will be built on the Sanborn campus of SUNY Niagara.  An estimated $2.27 million for the building was appropriated in the SUNY building fund adopted by the state budget passage a few weeks ago.  Last fall, the Niagara County Legislature voted to allocate up to $3 million from the county’s American Rescue Plan funds for the construction project.  The total anticipated project cost is approx. $4.54 million.

After a decade at Niagara University, the NCLEA relocated to SUNY Niagara in August 2021.  The Academy, jointly operated by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and the Niagara Falls Police Department, was previously located at SUNY Niagara from 1974 to 2011.  The academy trains newly hired officers or those hoping to be hired by police agencies throughout Western New York.  The Niagara County Corrections Academy is also held at SUNY Niagara.

Niagara County Legislature Chairman Becky Wydysh said, “The Niagara County Legislature is proud to support law enforcement across the county, and we are very excited that all the funding is now in place to move forward with the new law enforcement academy.  Having a state-of-the-art academy on the SUNY Niagara campus will provide the very best training for our future law enforcement officials while offering some unique learning opportunities to students in the SUNY Niagara criminal justice program.”

SUNY Niagara President William J. Murabito said having this new facility on the SUNY Niagara campus brings the program into the 21st century.  “The new learning environment will translate directly to more opportunities for NCLEA and SUNY Niagara criminal justice students and their ability to remain competitive.  The students will be better-trained and more prepared because they will be more comfortable with the technology,” Murabito said.

Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti said, “I want to thank SUNY Niagara and the County Legislature for being partners with the Sheriff’s Office in our vision for a new law enforcement academy.  The training requirements for those going into law enforcement are extensive and continue to evolve.  Our new Academy will allow us to use state-of-the-art technology to meet these training needs and better prepare future law enforcement officers for their careers.”

Plans for the new 15,000 square-foot building call for four classrooms with movable walls, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a reality-based training room, and the use of force simulator.  It is anticipated that construction will start in the spring 2023, and the facility will open in 2024.