KEARNEY, Mo. (Nov. 25, 2025) — Clay County law enforcement reached a long-awaited milestone this week with the grand opening of the new Law Enforcement Resource Center, a modern training facility designed to support deputies and regional agencies with state-of-the-art tools, expanded classroom space, and a fully enclosed indoor shooting range. The Sheriff’s Office celebrated the completion of the nearly $8 million project with an open house on Nov. 25.
Sheriff Will Akin said the project has been decades in the making. Standing outside the new facility, he reflected on how far the department has come.
“This has been a 30-year project,” Akin said. “We tried different locations over the years, but we always ran into obstacles. Now we finally have a training facility that meets and exceeds the standards we set for ourselves.”
A Major Upgrade for Training
The facility replaces an outdated space that could hold no more than 25 people. The new center features a stadium-style classroom that was originally designed for 50 seats but ultimately exceeded expectations.
“Once construction finished, we realized we could fit 64 people,” Akin said. This expanded room means the Sheriff’s Office can host larger trainings, including their popular citizens’ academy.
Beyond the classroom, the multipurpose training room provides space for defensive tactics, taser instruction, and decision-making scenarios. The department will also use both virtual and augmented reality training to simulate real-world environments without needing to train onsite.
Akin emphasized that deputies can now practice high-stress scenarios under more realistic physical conditions.
“We are going to amp them up through cardio, get their heart rate up to 130 or 140, and then put them into a decision-based scenario,” he said.
Indoor Range Eliminates Long Travel
For years, the Sheriff’s Office had to travel across the region for firearms training, sometimes as far north as St. Joseph or south to Sugar Creek. Many of those facilities have since closed.
“Having our own indoor range is a massive game changer,” Akin said. “It is not only for us, but an asset we can share with other law enforcement agencies.”
Noise was one of the biggest concerns raised during the site selection process. The new range sits on the opposite side of the property from residential neighbors and was engineered with multiple layers of sound-buffering materials. Akin said they built it “literally soundproof,” wrapped in AR-550 steel, cinder block, concrete, and acoustic insulation.
A Regional Resource
While the center will not serve as a location for walk-in reports, patrol deputies will be able to use the facility overnight to write reports or take breaks without having to drive to Liberty, while still being ready to respond to calls.
The project was funded through a combination of federal grants, including American Rescue Plan Act funds and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, along with Clay County general funds. Congressman Sam Graves’ office helped secure federal earmarks because the facility serves as a regional training asset.
The center was designed by Piper-Wind Architects, Inc., and built by Straub Construction. It is the first major construction project for the Sheriff’s Office since the detention center expansion in 2000.
“A Surreal Moment”
Akin said the moment he walked into the finished building felt unreal.
“It was a long time coming,” he said. “We finally have a training facility that will allow us to grow with the community and give our deputies what they need to serve Clay County.”
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