The Californer - Long Beach Celebrates Grand Opening of New Police Academy

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Above: City of Long Beach officials celebrate the grand opening of the new Police Academy with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.

Long Beach, CA – On Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, the City of Long Beach celebrated the grand opening of the new Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) Police Academy following a comprehensive infrastructure buildout effort to enhance the facility and overall experience for police recruits, staff and visitors. The event marked a key milestone in the City's commitment to enhancing public safety, improving access to City resources and modernizing critical infrastructure. The event included remarks by Mayor Rex Richardson, Fourth District Councilman Darly Supernaw, City Manager Tom Modica and Police Chief Wally Hebeish, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

"This new Police Academy Training Campus represents a once-in-a-generation investment in public safety and in the people who serve our community," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "By modernizing how we train our officers, we're raising the standard for professionalism, accountability and preparedness—so that every Long Beach neighborhood benefits from policing that is effective, respectful and rooted in the values of this city. This facility is about building the next generation of officers and ensuring Long Beach is ready for the future."

The LBPD has a proud history of training police recruits, with formalized training dating back to the 1940s. Prior to this construction project, the Police Academy had been using modular trailers which served as classrooms, offices and locker rooms since 1997. Almost 27 years later, these temporary structures were at the end of their usable lifespan and plans were developed to transform this facility into a modern, state-of-the-art training center.

The Long Beach City Council approved funding for the project in September 2023 and construction began in January 2024. This project included the replacement of the dated modular buildings, construction of a new locker room, renovations to existing structures and sitewide improvements. Enhancements include a recruit classroom that will accommodate larger academy class sizes, expanding the Department's capacity to train police recruits; an enhanced training classroom for the Advanced Officer Training Cadre where police officers participate in ongoing training and professional development; an updated gym and mat room for training related to defensive tactics and arrest control techniques; and updated administrative offices for Training and Tactical Support Division personnel. The new Police Academy also received upgrades to paving, landscaping and irrigation, sewer and water lines and external lighting, as well as accessibility upgrades that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

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"Our city is safe because of the dedication, professionalism and hard work demonstrated by our police officers daily, and this new Police Academy will ensure they have an enhanced space to train even more effectively," said Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw. "I would like to thank everyone who made this project a reality so that we can continue to meet the public safety needs of our community."

This project will meet the LBPD's current and future training needs, facilitating the training of new police recruits and the ongoing training of current police officers and serving as a regional hub for law enforcement training. With upcoming large-scale events of international significance in the region, such as the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, the LBPD will be able leverage the updated academy space to prepare and train officers to meet the unique safety needs of these historic events.

"Our new Police Academy represents our commitment to providing the highest level of training needed to develop the next generation of law enforcement leaders," said Chief of Police Wally Hebeish. "LBPD Academy Class #100, our largest police academy class ever, will soon have the distinct privilege of being the first class to utilize this state-of-the-art training facility. I am proud to celebrate this milestone and excited about the future of our police department."

"This is a historic moment for the City of Long Beach. Having a premier training facility creates the space necessary for our Long Beach Police Department to train and to prepare for the future needs of our community," said City Manager Tom Modica. "This is a significant investment in the safety and strength of our entire community and will position our city for many years of growth and opportunity."

The project is funded with $25.6 million from Measure A, $5.5 million in General Capital and $2 million in Police Impact Fees funds. A second phase of the project will begin this year and will include environmental remediation, construction of a new obstacle training course for administration of physical agilities tests, and installation of prefabricated structures for search tactics training, chemical agent exposure training and other scenario-based instruction.

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To learn more about the Long Beach Police Academy and future renovation plans, please visit the LBPD's Police Academy webpage.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

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