The Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Fri., Apr. 3, 2026, for its new Special Training and Response (S.T.A.R.) Facility in Orange, Calif. The facility will be an added component to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Sandra Hutchens Regional Law Enforcement Training Center.
Providing an adaptable force-on-force training resource, the 7,500-sq.-ft. S.T.A.R. Facility will encompass two floors and a usable rooftop that are reconfigurable for a variety of scenarios. It is designed to offer a state-of-the-art, safe environment in which academy recruits, deputies and tactical units can train in scenarios including basic calls for service, active shooter situations and tactical responses.
The exterior of the facility can be adapted to simulate an array of structures such as commercial businesses, motels, apartments, churches or schools. Interior features include a tracked, moveable wall system for efficient alteration to serve specific training objectives. The building will also have internal and external stairwells.
“The groundbreaking of the S.T.A.R. Facility marks the beginning of a project that will significantly enhance training for law enforcement and help ensure the safety of our community for generations to come,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “I am grateful for the generosity of those who stepped up to make this project a reality. It is truly an investment in our public safety infrastructure and our ability to meet the complex threats we face.”
Prime contractor on the project is KPRS Construction Services, headquartered in Brea, Calif. Handling project management is Rob Plavjka from Balsa Construction of Newport Beach, Calif. Construction began on Apr. 6, with completion slated for April of 2027.
Key donors for the project have included the Argyros Foundation, Laura Khouri and Mike K. Hayde, Paul Black, Rancho Mission Viejo LLC, the Johnson Family Foundation, Janet and Carl Nolet Jr., the Samueli Foundation and the Bertea family. Through the generosity of these and other donors, the project has now met its funding goal of $15.4 million.
To learn more about the new S.T.A.R. Facility, visit https://star.ocsac.org.