The Madison Police Department has been using Blackhawk Technical College’s new Public Safety and Transportation Complex this week to train new police officers on vehicle pursuit scenarios.

In addition to significantly enhancing Blackhawk’s safety and transportation programs, the new complex is available for rent by both governmental and non-governmental entities, and MPD is the first outside agency to use the new PSTC facility, which opened earlier this year.

Starting on Sept. 19, 41 students used the facility to for “reality-based training” on the new Emergency Vehicle Operator Course.

“In comparison to other facilities we’ve used, this is impressive. We’ve been enjoying our time here, and I can see us using this facility again,” Madison Police Detective Kelly Dougherty, who is a former Blackhawk adjunct instructor, said on Friday.

Police Officer Mike Ott, an emergency vehicle operator course instructor, and Sgt. Joe Engler, both agreed with Dougherty’s assessment. The proximity to Madison makes the facility ideal, they both said.

“The amenities are great. We spent time in the new cafeteria, too, and have felt so welcome,” Engler said.

Blackhawk hopes to work with many agencies and entities in Rock and Green counties as well as outside that district, said Troy Egger, Law Enforcement Program Administer at Blackhawk.

“It is exciting to see different law enforcement agencies coming to Blackhawk Technical College to use our new facilities. Getting agencies from out of the district like Madison PD really shows we have built something that is going to be a major asset to public safety training in the region,” he said. “We are looking forward to going beyond just renting the facilities to agencies. We also are building a great catalog of trainings, so agencies can send their personnel to us and they can get the most up to date and relevant public safety training, which in the long run, makes our communities safer.”

For more information about use of the PSTC, including rental rates, please contact Troy Egger at 608-757-6963 or tegger1@blackhawk.edu.