A vacant residence hall is being used for a different purpose this week, as local law enforcement agencies conduct hands-on training exercises. Officers from the Bettendorf Police Department gathered inside Davis Hall for tactical training designed to simulate real-life emergency situations.
The empty building provides a unique opportunity for officers to practice in a realistic, controlled environment. Training scenarios include room clearing, communication strategies, and coordinated responses to potential threats. Officials say exercises like these are critical in preparing officers for high-pressure situations they may encounter in the field.
“It gives them a chance to train in environments that they normally don’t get a chance to train in. They have the opportunity to do large stairwells here. there’s not a lot of places in the quad cities that are empty and available for training.” says Director of Public Safety Ryan Leabo
The use of Davis Hall allows officers to navigate hallways, stairwells, and confined spaces, conditions that closely mirror real incidents. Organizers say this kind of environment helps improve both individual skills and team coordination.
“We have an ancillary duty team. So, most of our guys are patrol detectives and are able to apply what we practice here and train here to regular operations.” says Lieutenant Zach Thomas.
While the building is no longer in use for students, its temporary role as a training site is helping strengthen public safety efforts in the community. Officials say opportunities like this are rare, but valuable, as departments continue working to stay prepared for a wide range of emergency situations.
