Sheriff Roger Garrison Training Center Opens

The long awaited training center that's slated to propel Cherokee County into a regional destination to train law enforcement officers across the state is now open.

The Cherokee Sheriff's Office on Wednesday opened its Sheriff Roger D. Garrison Law Enforcement Training Center, located next to the county's Public Safety Building.

Over 100 elected officials, business and government leaders and law enforcement officials across metro Atlanta and the state descended onto the property on Chattin Drive for the grand opening, which also included a ribbon cutting by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.

Cherokee Sheriff's Office Capt. Joe Perkins will serve as its director.

Sheriff Roger Garrison, who is in his 21st year in office, noted Wednesday was a "very proud day" for him to open a facility that will have a "regional impact" on law enforcement. 

Th training center is a $4.1 million complex, will have 11,000 square feet of classroom space, a roughly 6,600-square-foot shoot house where deputies and officers can train with live ammunition, a 200-yard rifle range, a four story tower and four other multi-purpose ranges on site. 

The county was initially short on funding for the project. 

However, the Georgia Public Safety Training Center offered to partner with Cherokee County and provide an additional $700,000 towards the project. 

With that contribution, the center starting on Jan. 1 will also be known as the Georgia Public Safety Training Center — Cherokee and will host the first police academy. 

"We're very proud of this accomplishment," Garrison added of the "beautiful facility." "The taxpayers of Cherokee County have always been great supporters of public safety and this is a testament to that." 

County Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens noted the center's opening is "another great example of partnerships and innovative solutions."

"It's really easy to get things done when you work positively, collaboratively and innovatively," he added, noting the credit also goes to County Manager Jerry Cooper and his staff for transforming the project from a dream to a reality.

State Senator Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) also praised the county's leadership in funding the center, and voting to name the center after Garrison.  

"The state plays several roles in government, but there is no role more important than public safety and keeping our citizens safe," he added. 

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