OAK HARBOR, Wash.—The Oak Harbor Police Department officially celebrated the grand opening of its new Public Safety Training Center, marking a transformative milestone for law enforcement preparedness and regional collaboration on Whidbey Island.
The 13,000-square-foot facility, located at 951 NE 21st Court, represents a highly progressive approach to modern policing. It features a 13-lane indoor firearms range, modern classrooms, a multi-purpose training space, and a dedicated defensive tactics mat room. Additionally, the center houses a cutting-edge Apex Virtual Reality (VR) training system, allowing officers to immerse themselves in realistic, high-stakes scenarios designed to master de-escalation tactics and crisis intervention.
The acquisition represents a masterclass in fiscal responsibility and strategic planning by city leadership. Rather than funding a costly “ground-up” construction project, the City of Oak Harbor acquired the existing commercial indoor shooting range building—formerly known as Anchor Point—for $2.7 million, securing the property at roughly 16% below its original listing price.
Crucially, the facility was delivered without increasing the local tax burden on Oak Harbor residents. Under the vision of Police Chief Tony Slowik and the advocacy of State Representative Dave Paul, the city stitched together an innovative “financial mosaic” to fund the purchase. This included a $250,000 State of Washington grant, $400,000 from regional opioid settlement funds—justified by the center’s focus on mental health and addiction crisis response training—and over $350,000 pulled from internal police staffing savings and accreditation reimbursements.
Prior to the opening, Oak Harbor officers relied on civilian sports clubs to meet mandatory training requirements, which presented severe scheduling bottlenecks and security challenges. The new, dedicated facility ensures seamless, year-round tactical training for Oak Harbor personnel and their regional public safety partners.
Mayor Ronnie Wright, the Oak Harbor City Council, and the Police Community Advisory Board (CAB) have praised the project as a critical investment in community safety. Furthermore, the city’s strategic acquisition included an adjacent 58,453-square-foot vacant lot. Chief Slowik envisions this plot as the future footprint for a brand-new, modern Oak Harbor Police Department headquarters, eventually replacing the cramped, 1950s-era station currently in use.
With this ribbon-cutting, Oak Harbor has not only secured a premier, regional training hub for today’s first responders but has successfully laid the physical foundation for the future of its public safety infrastructure.
