Amid growing concerns surrounding the opioid and mental health crises, the city of Oak Harbor hopes to secure $1 million in state funding to purchase a building that would house a training facility for first responders in the Northern Puget Sound area.

The vacant building is located at 951 Northeast 21st Court #1 in Oak Harbor and is listed for $2.99 million, according to Realty.com. Tony Slowik, chief of the Oak Harbor Police Department, said the building became available last June and used to house Anchor Point, a shooting range previously known as Pacific Indoor Tactical.

In a letter sent Thursday to Rep. Dave Paul, Rep. Clyde Shavers and Sen. Ron Muzzall, Mayor Ronnie Wright wrote that the North Sound Region lacks an indoor public safety training facility where first responders can practice de-escalation, patrol tactics, use of force and intervention strategies. This infrastructure could strengthen partnerships between agencies, improve emergency responses and enhance community safety, he wrote.

Slowik said the building will be the Oak Harbor Police Department’s primary training facility and it will be used for cross-training collaborations between law enforcement departments and other first responder agencies from the North Sound Region. These partners include the Island County Sheriff’s Office, the Langley Police Department, the Anacortes and Swinomish Police Departments, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and more, he wrote in an email.

The mayor is asking legislators to support the city’s request for a $1 million grant, a sum that would secure the acquisition of the property, while the rest of the funding will be provided by the North Sound Region partners involved.

This is in line with the city’s 2025 legislative priorities, which includes the addition of a regional training facility in the county.

The 13,000-square-foot building features a 13-lane firearms range, a classroom and two multi-use training spaces, the mayor wrote, and it stands on a 15,478-square-foot parcel, according to information presented at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

In the absence of a designated training facility, Slowik said, Oak Harbor police officers and trainees conduct their firearm practices at other locations, like the North Whidbey Sportsmen’s Association shooting range on North Whidbey, or at the Central Whidbey Sportsmen’s Association in Coupeville, while intervention tactics are practiced at the department’s parking lot, at local fire stations or at a local school — when classes are not in session.

With training taking place weekly in the police department, Slowik explained how the lack of a facility designated specifically for first responders is an issue for various reasons.

A parking lot, for example, is not as effective in keeping the general public away, representing a safety concern.

While options are already limited, multiple shooting ranges around the state have had to shut down after the Department of Ecology found them not to be up to safety standards, with poor ventilation systems or high amounts of lead from ammunition infiltrating the groundwater.

Slowik said the city would hire inspectors to assess what work needs to be done and will conduct regular maintenance to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Additionally, the building was built in 1976 and renovated in 2017 to include a state-of-the-art ventilation system, he said.

Other ranges may have to operate on a limited schedule to reduce noise disturbance, or need to be requested a month in advance. Furthermore, setting up and taking down training equipment before and after each training session can be time-consuming.

With this facility, the police department could plan its training sessions months in advance and won’t need to move equipment around, Slowik said.

“The region’s been in need of this for a while,” he said.

The city also plans to buy a 58,453-square-foot parcel adjacent to the property and listed for $287,500. The address is 951 Northeast 21St Court #3, according to Realty.com.

While there are currently no plans for this undeveloped parcel, Slowik said, it could be used for a variety of purposes, like hosting a new police department building, as the current one was built in the 1950s and remodeled in the 1980s and is currently at capacity. Alternatively, it could house a new county jail or city hall, he hypothesized.

The smaller building located behind the potential training center is not up for sale and it’s owned by a different owner. It is currently occupied by Darbonnier Tactical Supply.

During this week’s city council meeting, Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director David Goldman said the proposed price for the training building is $2.75 million, or 16% less than its original price. For comparison, Slowik said, the city of Lacey is in the process of buying a building that is similar in size and use but costs about $10 million.

Council Members Barbara Armes, Eric Marshall, James Marrow and Chris Wiegenstein expressed their enthusiasm for the potential purchase, its relatively low price tag, the potential to increase safety and its potential to bring more revenue to businesses in Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island.

Council Member Bryan Stucky abstained from commenting or voting, as he stated he has a personal and professional relationship with the property owner, RGW Investments, LLC. Council member Jim Woessner, who was absent, wrote a letter explaining he was abstaining from voting as he works as an agent for Better Homes and Gardens McKenzie Realty, the brokerage firm representing the property owner. Woessner assured he did not influence any council members’ opinion on the matter and that he wouldn’t receive any commission from the transaction.

Goldman said there are some contingencies on the purchase, including a six-month feasibility period. The purchase is also contingent on the state and the Skagit County Drug Task Force providing funding agreements.

The council approved a motion to authorize the mayor to perform activities and execute documents to purchase the properties.

For more information, visit 951 NE 21st Court #1 and 951 NE 21St Court #3

This building, which used to house Pacific Indoor Tactical, is located at 951 Northeast 21st Court #1 in Oak Harbor and is listed for $2.99 million. (Photo from Realty.com)

The city plans to buy the long building and the adjacent undeveloped property. The building would be used as a training facility for first responders. There are currently no plans for the undeveloped property, though OHPD Chief Tony Slowik said a new police department building could be built there in the future. (Photo from Realty.com)

The 13,000-square-foot building features a 13-lane firearms range, a classroom and two multi-use training spaces. (Photo from Realty.com)