OVERLAND PARK, Kan.—The Overland Park Police Department (OPPD) officially marked a historic shift in its training capabilities this week. On February 23, 2026, city leaders, police officials, and community partners gathered at the W. Jack Sanders Justice Center for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the city’s new $23 million Police Training Center.
The 34,611-square-foot facility, located at 12400 Foster Street, represents a long-awaited upgrade for the department. For years, OPPD’s physical and tactical training has been conducted in repurposed spaces—including a building originally designed as a garage. This new center is designed to replace those makeshift quarters with a professional, high-tech environment tailored to modern policing needs.
The project is being brought to life by a team of regional experts. Titan Built LLC is serving as the Construction Manager at Risk, overseeing the build-out of the massive addition on the west side of the existing justice campus. The architect of record for the project is Hoefer Welker. Civil engineering for the site is being managed by BHC, ensuring the new structure integrates seamlessly with the existing campus security and infrastructure.
Moving beyond traditional lecture-style learning, the center focuses on “scenario-based training.” Key features of the new building include:
- Tactical & Defensive Rooms: Padded flooring and immersive environments for real-world simulation.
- Specialized Classrooms: Large-scale training rooms with stadium seating for departmental briefings and regional seminars.
- Fitness & Readiness: A dedicated high-performance fitness center to ensure officer health and wellness.
- Advanced Security: The site will feature new ornamental steel fencing and upgraded secure access points for staff and judges.
The timing of the project is particularly significant as the Kansas City region prepares for the 2026 World Cup. City officials have noted that the center will play a vital role in ensuring that Overland Park’s force is at peak readiness for the influx of international visitors and the heightened security demands of the tournament.
Construction is expected to move rapidly throughout the year, with a targeted completion window in late 2026 or early 2027. Once finished, the facility is poised to be a “one-of-a-kind” hub in Johnson County, potentially serving as a regional resource for neighboring agencies.
