PORT JERVIS – The long-awaited grand opening of Port Jervis Police Department’s new training facility and shooting range brought dozens to share in its opening Saturday afternoon. This included many from PJFD who helped over the years in bringing it to this spring’s completion.
The new Chief William J. Worden Training Facility is located on the city’s Towpath Road, accessible from Canal and Ryan Street. It features state-of-the-art technology and training provisions, exercise equipment, a kitchen area, and an on-site shooting range.
While plans for the facility have been ongoing over the past decade, the naming and dedication of the facility to Worden came as a complete surprise to the department’s chief during the official opening ceremony.
Police Detective/PBA President Kyle Mitchell told those gathered for the rainy Saturday afternoon opening, that while Worden checked in regularly throughout the process, there was more to the day’s event than the chief was aware of.
“We’re not just dedicating a building, we’re dedicating it to the man who made it all happen,” Mitchell disclosed for the first time during opening remarks. “For those who don’t know Chief William Worden, I can’t think of somebody that’s more dedicated to the training and well-being of the officers that he presides over.”
Mitchell noted that while the building has been a longtime dream, well over 15-years and at times becoming the butt of jokes with people asking how the range building was going, the department can now show them with pride that it is there. Mitchell also noted that although original plans for the building are now complete, the chief already has additional ideas for the future.
“Which is just the way he is,” chuckled Mitchell.
Mayor Dominic Cicalese was among many dignitaries on hand for the dedication, including past city mayors, current and past police officers and former chiefs of Port Jervis and its neighboring communities, common council members, and county, state and local officials.
Cicalese named Saturday, May 9 as Chief William Worden Recognition Day while reading a proclamation about new facility and the chief.
The mayor’s proclamation noted Worden’s extensive education in police and administrative studies, from Associate through Master Degrees, advancement through PJPD ranks beginning as a patrol officer in 1993 to serving as chief of Police since 2007, and his leadership in “preparing future generations of officers to serve with honor, compassion, and professionalism” in their community.
“Throughout his career, Chief Worden has demonstrated unwavering commitment to excellence in law enforcement, and under his leadership has strengthened community partnerships, advanced public safety initiatives, and fostered the highest standards of training and accountability,” Cicalese said.
Cicalese praised all that the new facility offers in continuing to achieve such purposes.
Other presentations included PJPD Chaplain Jose Rodriguez, state Assemblyman Karl Brabanec, Orange County Legislator Thomas Faggione, and a representative for State Senator James Skoufis.