Located in Merrill, Wisconsin, NTC’s Public Safety Center of Excellence (PSCOE) is the region’s premier training facility for local, state and federal training. The Public Safety Center of Excellence offers 24/7, all hazards, all weather advanced training in a technically integrated and realistic environment.

Public Safety Center of Excellence

The 40-acre site is located 20 minutes north of the NTC Wausau campus on the edge of the City of Merrill, an area rich with a natural environment suitable for multiple uses including water rescue and rural wilderness training.

Types of Training Offered

We are proud to provide professional training and continuing education for America’s heroes — public safety professionals representing law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services (EMS).

All courses and programs offered through the School of Public Safety are certified to state and/or national standards.

Public Safety Center of Excellence

Explore the Facilities

From classroom spaces outfitted with the latest technology to real-life training apparatus, including a Tactical Safety Range and Emergency Village, the Public Safety Center of Excellence offers a wide array of hands-on training facilities that prepare public safety professionals for the worst in the best simulated environment for learning.

Get an up close look at our state-of-the-art facilities by watching the drone tour video or exploring the individual training locations below.

Orange cones are strategically placed inside of a facility for the purposes of testing a candidates physical strength.

Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Facility

We are pleased to offer the only indoor CPAT test site in the state of Wisconsin. The test is offered year-round at our indoor facility which includes specialized CPAT equipment and is run by our trained CPAT personnel.
A man takes part in a protest simulation in the Community Safety Simulation Center, where projected individuals stand outside with a megaphone and a sign reading “Turn to the TRUTH!” in a residential setting.

Community Safety Simulation Center

The Community Safety Simulation Center is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to enhancing emergency preparedness and crisis response training for schools, faith-based organizations, health care providers and community members.

An oil tanker railcar sits in a gravel area.

Railroad Crossing and Railcar Training Area

Railroad crossing with railcars to enhance a response to a railcar derailment, hazmat spill and much more.

Two conex shipping containers are positioned side by side with a gap in-between to simulate a trench above the ground.

Trench Rescue Training

The trench rescue prop simulates conditions that may exist when construction of water and sewer lines is taking place. Students are given the opportunity to develop trench rescue shoring skills in a controlled environment.

Large cement pipes are positioned in a field to simulate a search and rescue mission within confined spaces.

Collapsed Venues for Search & Rescue and K9 Training

A real world building collapse prop to train emergency responders in search and rescue, recovery, and incident investigations.

A paved roadway with one yellow stripe down the center.

Two-Lane Roadway With DOT Signage, Centerline and Fog Line

Roadway used for emergency responses and traffic incident management training.

A white Travel Trailer is set up next to a family picnic table on a flat grassy area next to trees and bushes.

Wilderness Campsite

Realistic campsite area to teach law enforcement approach to campsite criminal incidents, firefighters' response to campfire situations and EMS response to medical and traumatic injuries encountered at a campsite.

Air Medical Landing Zone at the Public Safety Center of Excellence with an ambulance parked on the left and a helicopter parked on the right.

Air Medical Landing Zone Training Site and Roundabout

Area used for air medical landing zone preparation and patient loading evolutions.

A tall wooden structure with stairs and balconies designed for live fire, confined space, and search and rescue scenarios.

Fire Splash Tower

Fire splash tower used for firefighter ladder evolutions and tactical rope use during tactical courses.

A utility pole with power lines are on top of a red SUV and a beige colored minivan.

Vehicle Extrication Pad and Downed Power Lines Simulator

Location to perform vehicle extrication training and downed power line response.

Natural gas supplies are hooked up to a black residential propane cylinder that is engulfed in flames.

LP Burn Simulators for Fire Training

Five different gas props to aid firefighter classes in fire response training. Including a vehicle fire, dumpster fire, gas grill fire, LP tank fire, and fire extinguisher training.

A four story burn tower with many doors, windows, stairs, balconies, and areas that are open and enclosed.

4-Story Certified Burn Tower With Rope Rappelling Capabilities

Certified four story burn tower capable of live fire training for firefighter training, patient extrication for EMS, building clearing for law enforcement, and rope repelling/rescue for all hazards.

Village of mock storefronts for urban simulation training.

Emergency Village for Urban Simulation Trainings

Urban Street training businesses and houses that include props and furniture to simulate real-life scenarios.

EVOC Skidpad with cones set up and lines painted on the pavement.

EVOC Skid Pad and Defensive Driving Area

Three acre skid pad used for EVOC courses in defensive driving operations.

A two story, beige colored control tower with a porte-cochere and large windows designed for observation.

State-Of-The-Art Control Tower and Technology Center With Briefing Room and Classroom

State of the art incident control tower and tactical operations facility, including camera, sound, and lighting controls throughout the facility. Briefing room for instruction including a SMART board to playback scenarios and evolutions.

Several gas utility pipes with various settings and gauges at the NTC leak detection field.

Natural Gas Leak Detection Field

The leak detection field is used to train public service utility employees in the detection of gas leaks.

A view of a DOT regulated traffic standards area, including traffic lights at an intersection.

DOT Regulated Traffic Standards

DOT regulated traffic control lights with instructor controls of the light rotations.

An indoor shooting range with several standing targets featuring a picture of an armed criminal on each one.

Tactical Safety Range

Eleven lane shooting range, that accommodates both rifle and handgun. In addition the facility has a classroom, and weapon cleaning room.

A large command center attached to a three stall apparatus bay with two NTC squad vehicles and a fire truck parked outside.

Classroom Location With Two Classrooms

Main classroom facility includes two state-of-the-art classrooms (one with video broadcasting capability), a student break room and a three-stall apparatus bay that houses emergency response vehicles.

Rentals

Reserve Training Facilities

Reserve classroom space for large or small groups, or set up hands-on training using tools that include an emergency village, splash tower, burn tower and more. Customized, cost-effective training in emergency management and public safety is available.

Contact the School of Public Safety

Your request is important to us. If you’d like more information on the Public Safety Center of Excellence, available courses and certification opportunities or customized public safety training available, or if you have other questions, please contact us and someone from the School of Public Safety will follow up with you.

Phone: 715.348.7205
Email: PSCOE@ntc.edu
Address: 1603 Champagne St., Merrill, WI 54452

The Tactical Safety Range at the Public Safety Center of Excellence, with signage in the foreground, directing visitors to the Command Center, Tactical Safety Range, and Control Tower