HERSHEY, Pa. — Governor Josh Shapiro, Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and other state officials on Monday joined Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris for a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Pennsylvania State Police Academy that included the unveiling of plans for the new, world-class police training facility.
Shapiro said his administration is committed to making sure every Pennsylvanian can be safe and feel safe in their community – and creating safer communities starts with making sure police departments and the Pennsylvania State Police are well-staffed, well-funded, well-trained, and well-equipped.
The modernization project replaces outdated infrastructure with state-of-the-art facilities, representing the most comprehensive update to the Academy since it opened in 1960, the Shapiro administration said.
Multiple new buildings totaling 366,000 square feet are proposed for the 146-acre site in Hershey, including a five-story Marquee Building with modern classrooms and administrative offices, 300 individual cadet dormitories, a 500-seat auditorium, and a spacious cafeteria.
“The new Pennsylvania State Police Academy will be a state-of-the-art facility second to none in the country that will give cadets hands-on learning opportunities that will better prepare them for service in our communities,” said Shapiro. “I firmly believe that every Pennsylvanian deserves to be safe and feel safe in their community. That starts with ensuring police departments are well-staffed, well-trained, well-funded, and well-equipped.
"Policing is a noble profession, and good people want to come here to this academy and train for a career in public service – and it’s on us to invest in them and give them the resources they need to succeed. I’m proud to join all of you today to celebrate the next chapter for the Pennsylvania State Police.”
A physical education building with two gymnasiums, a training tank, and a weight room will provide space and equipment for self-defense training, water safety courses, and fitness conditioning. Indoor and outdoor tactical villages will host simulations of high-risk incidents such as active shooters, hostage situations, and barricaded subjects.
Additional facilities will include a new headquarters for the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations, horse stables for the Mounted Unit, a central supply warehouse, and a vehicle garage at the Pennsylvania State Police Historical, Educational and Memorial Center.
“Updated facilities and amenities are long overdue here at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, the nation’s premier law enforcement training facility,” said Paris. “The new Academy will support the highest level of instruction for cadets, troopers, and our law enforcement partners.”
The existing Academy will remain operational throughout construction, which is scheduled to begin immediately. The project includes demolition of several existing structures and is expected to be complete in 2028.
