Malvern police build new training facility

MALVERN, AR - Two Malvern police officers build their new training facility that'll hardly cost taxpayers a penny.

"There's not many times when you just, all of the sudden, bam, you've got some property," said Lt. Doye DelaCruz.

Once a doctor's office, the property is right across the street from the main Malvern Police Department, and the owner donated it to police.

"Back area here," said DelaCruz while giving a tour of the new facility. "You know of course we have restroom facilities, male and female."

So now the question is, why do the cops - with tape measurers instead of guns - look more like carpenters?

"It's like when you have a home project," said DelaCruz. "You know, you do it to save money."

The Malvern police budget is almost as small as the department itself, with just 19 sworn officers including the chief. That means when you want a new training facility, the building has to be donated, same with the gym, the smart board has to come from the drug seizure fund, and all of the labor has to be done by cops.

That's ok though -- these guys are used to it. Malvern police built their shoot house the same way they're building their new training facility, with donations and lots of hard work.

Said DelaCruz, "these officers are gonna be more well trained because like with anything else, in order to be more effective, training is important."

And apparently that goes for law enforcement training ... and carpentry training as well.