RICHMOND, Ind.— Richmond's police officers and firefighters now share a state-of-the-art education and fitness facility.
And, it's something they'll share with neighboring departments, as well.
Just 11 months after the groundbreaking ceremony, the new building and the Israel "Izzy" David Edelman Fire and Police Training Center were dedicated Wednesday. The building houses classroom, practical space, a fitness room and office space for both departments. Still to come are detoxificationsaunas for firefighters to sweat out carcinogenic toxins after fires.
Groundbreaking:
Fundraising:Richmond Fire Department raises funds for new training ground building, detox systems
Dedication:Mom 'overwhelmed' after training center dedicated to son who died in fire
"This is a shining jewel in East Central Indiana, now," said Richmond Police Chief Mike Britt. "We intend to run forward with that. We have the property here to effect any type of training you could think of.”
That's the plan. The vision began during the1990s when land was acquired from Richmond Power & Light, andRichmond Fire Chief Jerry Purcell refocused on the that visionafter he became chief in 2014.
Training props, including a K-9 course for RPD,have consistently been installed in the expanding Phase II of the training ground at1740 S. Eighth St.Purcell had not even finished showing off the new building, which is Phase III, before looking into the training area's future.
“We’ve still got some more stuff to build," said Purcell, indicating the tower will be made higher and a grain bin will be added to the confined-space area. "I’ve got experts in every discipline, and I need to have a training prop for every discipline. And that’s our goal.”
The facility is named for Izzy Edelman, who was 19 when he died in a fraternity house fire at Indiana University in Bloomington. His mother, Debra Edelman, was the guest of honor Wednesday, helping unveil a monument with the center's name on one side and listing Richmond police officers and firefighters who have died in the line of duty on the other side.
“If there isn’t order, there is no country," she told those gathered Wednesday. "The police provide the order, and fire the protection. That’s the order of our country, so we have one.
"To me, having this facility named after my son is an incredible honor.”
John Meredith was a Richmond firefighter in 1984 when Izzy Edelman died in Bloomington. He said the death struck all who served with RFD at the time, but he was especially impacted because Izzy was a friend of Meredith's younger sister, Emily, and a frequent guest at Meredith's house.
“When Izzy was in the house, you knew it, because he carried a presence," Meredith said. "He was always so polite, friendly and gregarious. You just couldn’t help but love the guy.”
Edelman, Meredith, Irene Clevenger, Bruce Upchurch and Wayne Township Trustee Susan Isaacs were thanked as donors who made the new building possible.
“Lots of people have worked on this," Purcell said "It’s taken lots of people to work together to make this happen, and to be honest with you, I can’t express how I feel to see this come to fruition and to see the people from all over acknowledging that we’re a leader as a department in training and education and caring about our people.”
Mayor Dave Snow thanked current and past first responders, but he also acknowledged those who will serve the city. The training center, he said, is a commitment to their service.
"It’s a place where challenges will be set, worked toward and met; where the dream of service will be fortified and made a reality through training; and where skills will continue to be honed and sharpened as rookies become veterans and trainers of their departments," Snow said. "This special place will become a keystone in the careers of many.”
Tom Hanify, president of the Professional Firefighters Union of Indiana, said that training investment is a statewide priority now for Gov. Eric Holcomb. Hanify said the vision is to have every career and volunteer firefighter within 45 minutes of a facility like Richmond's.
The dais from which Hanify spoke was near the Richmond Fire and Police Memorial that lists five RPD officers and five RFD members who have died in the line of duty.
“Not putting any names on this wall is what this building, this facility is all about,” Hanify said.
The facility is a far cry from 1984. Purcell was appointed to RFD that year, and the department's only training prop burned. It was not replaced.
“This facility will be an important component in training of the greater Wayne County area first responders — police and fire," Purcell said. "Training together to ensure familiarity, cooperation, cohesion resulting in safe and efficient operations on emergency scenes."
Britt said there has been a wedge between fire and police departments in the past. In addition to enabling responders to build stronger bodies and greatly enhance their knowledge, the new facility promotes continued unity that has developed during the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. A possible future joint police and fire headquarters also wouldbring the departments closer.
“Our environment now and the past year-and-a-half, two years that we’ve been through combined with the younger generation of emergency services workers have knocked that barrier down, I believe," Britt said. "This training facility as well as, hopefully, a joint police and fire headquarters someday will probably bring these two departments closer than they’ve ever been, and experience the cohesion and the benefit of training.”
RPD officers will likelyuse the facility daily and at all hours as the physical fitness area at police headquarters is phased out, Britt said.
He admitted he didn't see how the building would come about when Purcell initially showed him diagrams and drawings a few years ago.
“We’re blessed to have this,” he said.“The sky’s the limit here."
