WCCCD Unveils State-of-the-Art Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education

Nov. 4, 2005
Ten-acre, $6 million facility would prepare homeland security responders and staff

Taylor Mayor Greg Pitoniak and many other local officials and dignitaries will attend Wayne County Community College District's (WCCCD) ceremonial ribbon cutting to unveil the new Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education (MIPSE) on Friday, November 4, at 11:30 a.m. at the Downriver campus in Taylor.

The ten-acre, state-of-the-art $6 million emergency training facility houses a 4-story high fire tower, a 12,000 square-foot learning center, a 50,000 square foot-driver training area, a man-made lake for water emergencies and a transportation simulation area. The Institute has been heralded by leading homeland security experts as among the best in the nation.

Dr. Curtis Ivery, Chancellor, WCCCD said, "Homeland Security is one of the most crucial challenges that our nation faces. The new Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education will play an integral role in training emergency and response personnel and will allow fire, EMS, police, SWAT and Industry the ability to have their professionals trained in a safe and controlled environment."

The Institute has been built in response to the tremendous increase in the demand for WCCCD's Fire Fighters, Emergency Medical Services and Industrial Safety Training programs. Examples of specialized rescue programs include: electrical fires, pit fires, confined space rescue and vehicle fires. An aircraft simulator, rail-car simulator and a ship-board simulator are all contained within the Institute.

Prior to the Institute, there were no comprehensive emergency training centers in Wayne, Monroe or Washtenaw counties that specialized in homeland security, fire, law enforcement, EMS and industrial personnel with realistic and safe emergency training opportunities. Additionally, the Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education will enhance program performance and student opportunities for employment for many state approved programs which are currently offered by the College including: Michigan Correctional Officers' Training Council, Correction Officers, Medical First Responder, Basic Emergency Medical Technician and EMT-Specialist and Paramedic.

Presently, WCCCD is recognized as a regional training center for fire fighters by the Michigan Fire Fighter's Training Council and graduates of the program are certified to serve as professional fire fighters anywhere in the state of Michigan. Fire Fighters must also be trained in Emergency Medical Services and the Institute will now allow students to fulfill both those requirements.

Several community leaders including Sen. Ray Basham, Taylor Fire Chief Kenneth Costella, and James Buford, Director, Wayne County Homeland Security and Emergency Management are scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony. Lunch will be served immediately following the program.

WCCCD's Downriver campus is located on Northline Road, between I-75 and Telegraph in Taylor.