OC Sheriff opens new Firearms Training Center, dedicated to former Sheriff Hutchens

ORANGE, Ca. (Feb. 22, 2024): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday re-opened the newly revamped Firearms Training Center, which will provide safer and more effective training for Orange County’s law enforcement officers.

The facility at the Sandra Hutchens Regional Law Enforcement Training Center houses the only 50-yard indoor shooting range in the county dedicated to law enforcement with features that simulate real-world scenarios and incorporate de-escalation techniques.

“We make effective training a priority so our personnel are best prepared to keep our community safe,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner.

The re-opening event also included a formal dedication of the Sandra Hutchens Regional Law Enforcement Training Center in honor of the late Sheriff Hutchens, who served Orange County from 2008 to 2019.

The Sandra Hutchens Regional Law Enforcement Training Center is a state-of-the-art facility for advanced officer training that includes a mock town for tactical training, an interactive force-option training system, classroom space and a tactical firearms range for OC Sheriff special operations teams, such as the SWAT team.

“Sheriff Hutchens knew the importance of investing in those who serve as the frontline of safety for our community,” Sheriff Barnes said. “She would have been proud of this latest addition to our training facilities.”

The Firearms Training Center primarily will be used for ongoing patrol operations training and qualification requirements for peace officers.

Features of the redesigned range include:

• A 25-yard and 50-yard range with adjustable lighting and targets to run multiple scenarios, including enhanced de-escalation training
• Vehicle-sized bullet resistant entry doors to allow multiple law enforcement vehicles to park inside the range for various training scenarios
• A 90-degree bullet trap to allow for enhanced scenario-based training
• A state-of-the-art HEPA air filtration system designed to trap contaminants
• New cleaning and ready rooms equipped with safety features

The Sandra Hutchens Regional Law Enforcement Training Center is located at 1900 W. Katella Avenue, Orange, CA 92867.