Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Set to Open New State-of-the-Art Training Center in Leesburg
LEESBURG, AL – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is nearing completion of its brand-new, state-of-the-art Training Center, located off Highway 68 in Leesburg at the site of the former landfill. The multipurpose facility is set to officially open soon, marking a significant milestone in the department’s continued growth and commitment to professional development.
The 4,000-square-foot facility has been in the works for some time, with ground being broken in 2020. Now nearly finished—awaiting only the completion of paving in the parking area—the new Training Center will serve a variety of functions for the Sheriff’s Office and the broader law enforcement community.
A Tour of the Facility
WEIS Radio had the opportunity to tour the impressive new facility on Thursday. Sheriff Jeff Shaver and Chief Deputy Josh Summerford personally guided the visit, offering insights into the project’s vision, scope, and future use.
Located on a hill just inside the gate, the facility makes a strong first impression. The site includes the main training center building, a firing range, storage space, and approximately 300 acres of wooded property that provide ample opportunities for advanced tactical and field training.
The building itself is a 4,000-square-foot structure featuring a large classroom and a briefing-room-style setting. Amenities include a kitchen and break area, restrooms with showers, a front patio area, Starlink internet, multimedia capabilities, televisions, a podium and stage, an office-type corner setup, and roll-up garage-style doors—making the space highly flexible for various uses.
Already in Use
Although not yet officially opened, the facility has already hosted an event, with Sheriff Shaver welcoming sheriffs and their staffs from 13 different counties across Alabama. According to Sheriff Shaver, the feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive.
Additional training classes are scheduled to begin in just over a week.
This facility will be a very valuable asset to the Sheriff’s Office and staff, and therefore, important to the residents of Cherokee County. It can be used for training across various divisions, meetings, press conferences, hosting out-of-area guests, agency conferences, special events, and more.
Privacy and Practicality
The location offers a balance of convenience and seclusion, ensuring training operations will not interfere with nearby residents. The 24-line firing range, which meets FBI standards, has already been in use for several years and allows officers to train and qualify locally. It has also been made available to other law enforcement agencies for training purposes.
Nestled at the base of a mountain, the range provides a safe environment where noise from firearms does not negatively impact the public. The surrounding wooded terrain is ideal for specialized training for deputies, K-9 units, medical personnel, and other tactical teams. The site even includes space for helicopter landings, enabling aviation units to participate when needed.
The Alabama Forestry Commission is also contributing to the site’s development by clearing firebreaks and cutting trails in the wooded areas to further enhance training capabilities.
Cost-Effective Excellence
What may surprise many residents is how the Sheriff’s Office significantly reduced the project’s overall cost. Initial bids for the facility were estimated at over $2 million. Rather than accept that figure, the Sheriff’s Office chose to act as its own contractor—a strategic decision that, combined with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding, saved over $1 million.
The Cherokee County Commission played a major role, contributing approximately $450,000 to the project. Meanwhile, furniture, technology, and equipment were secured through federal funding. Sheriff Shaver and Chief Deputy Summerford expressed deep gratitude to Senator Katie Britt and Representative Mike Rogers for their roles in securing necessary grant money.
What was originally expected to cost over $2 million was ultimately completed for around $800,000.
A Community Investment
WEIS Radio is grateful for the opportunity to see the new facility firsthand. It’s encouraging to know that those who serve Cherokee County will now have access to a top-tier training and operations facility—built to enhance the quality of service they provide every day. This is a first-class facility built to serve the first-class people who serve our community.
