Today, the Joint Emergency Training Institute (JETI) stands complete after two major phases of work brought to life by The Korte Company.
Fueled by the “Vegas Strong” spirit that rose from tragedy, this state-of-the-art campus will serve first responders across Southern Nevada. These facilities are used to train the bravest, the best and brightest across multiple agencies — and not just in Nevada. The JETI is a blueprint for other training facilities across the country.
While plans for the facility were already underway, the true need for this expansion was made clear on Oct. 1, 2017. That day, a gunman opened fire above the Las Vegas Strip, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more. The tragedy underscored what local agencies already knew. Nevada needed a place where law enforcement and first responders from across jurisdictions could train together for the unthinkable. And that’s what we provided.
The 50,000-square-foot reality-based training center comes complete with classrooms, mat rooms, immersive simulators and administrative space. On the other side of the grounds stands a 130,000-square-foot tactical training village, designed to mirror the real world officers face in the city. Here, officers and first responders train for high-risk, high-pressure scenarios, from active shooter events to de-escalation tactics.
“October 1st, 2017, is a day none of us will ever forget,” said Greg Korte, business development for the company’s Las Vegas office. “The Joint Emergency Training Institute Campus isn’t just another project. It was built to give those men and women the preparation they deserve. The Korte Company was trusted to build it, and we’re proud to know this place will help save lives for years to come.”
Laying the foundation: Phase one
With such outstanding results, you’d never expect this project began as a big box in the desert and a deadline no one thought we could hit.
When we broke ground on the first building in early 2020, the world was changing by the day. COVID-19 was closing offices, stalling supply chains and keeping subcontractors at home. But the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) needed their new facility on time — no excuses.
While the LVMPD is the official owner and operator, the building was designed for a much wider circle of users: North Las Vegas Police Department, Henderson Police Department, Nevada Highway Patrol and the Nevada Gaming Control Board. This facility is the prototype training facility for Nevada’s law enforcement agencies and the blueprint for others to follow across the country.
But the site came with its own challenges. Located within the flight path of Nellis Air Force Base, the Tilt-Up crew and crane operators had to secure permits and coordinate with the base officials and FAA to ensure the schedule did not interfere with base operations.
The site also sat on Bureau of Land Management property, inside the city limits of North Las Vegas, which is part of Clark County. Before pouring the first footing, the team had to bear in mind federal mineral laws, local permitting and a tangle of multi-jurisdictional stakeholders.
Despite the many challenges, phase one delivered nearly 270,000 total square feet of space across two buildings.
The Joseph Lombardo Building houses clearing stations for secure weapon storage, multiple classrooms equipped with interactive projection technology to simulate real-world encounters and mat rooms for defensive tactics training. The building is named in honor of dedicated to former Sheriff and now Governor Joseph Lombardo for his leadership as Clark County Sheriff.
Raising the bar: Phase two
In 2024, LVMPD asked The Korte Company to deliver the next step in this world-class campus: the Reality Based Training Facility.
Built inside the shell we completed in 2021, this second phase transformed the building into a living, breathing tactical environment. Here, first responders can now rehearse high-pressure scenarios in safe, controlled conditions — from active shooter drills to coordinated disaster response.
This second 105,954 -square-foot building includes a reinforced concrete slab, prepped utilities, and integrated CO₂, NO₂ and methane detection systems. It also features a mezzanine structure designed for multi-level tactical exercises. The facility is comprised of Tilt-Up concrete panels and steel framing, paired with high-volume HVAC systems sized for large occupancy loads and secure access control throughout.
At its heart is the indoor tactical training village — more than 105,000 square feet of customizable streetscapes, commercial fronts, and one- and two-story residential structures. Side A simulates urban and retail settings. Side B recreates neighborhoods, complete with multi-level challenges.
Integrated video monitoring captures every drill for after-action review, while sound dampening and high-capacity ventilation make it safe to run live-scenario simulations involving firearms, smoke or gas.
“The training facility is being built to address both the need for collective responses to incidents like the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting on 1 October, 2017, as well as to provide training for the police department and ultimately other law enforcement agencies so that they can better respond to incidents that require de-escalation, self-defense and other types of responses — in particular to active shooter situations,” LVMPD Foundation Executive Director Tom Kovach told Fox News Digital.
Built for resilience
This second phase carries a name honored throughout the Vegas community.
In 2024, the Reality Based Training Facility was dedicated to Detective Steve Scholl, a respected LVMPD veteran known for his years of mentorship and leadership alongside former sheriffs like Jerry Keller and Bill Young.
The building was unveiled in his honor during a ceremony at the Joint Emergency Training Institute to recognize the values he lived by and the impact he had on fellow officers.
From day one, this campus was a response to hard lessons. Planning began before the Oct. 1, 2017 tragedy, but that night underscored the need for seamless, multi-agency coordination in Nevada.
The center will allow for more officers and personnel from other agencies to train in a quality environment where they can learn to make difficult decisions under stress and de-escalate life-threatening situations.
“The LVMPD Foundation is proud of its part in developing this new training center for law enforcement and first responders, and we are grateful to our donors and community partners,” said Tom Kovach, executive director of the LVMPD Foundation. “A quality training environment sharpens skill sets, improves the ability to employ tactics and tools, and helps agencies integrate and provide better service and save lives.”
The Job is the Boss®. It always has been. And on this project, the job called for us to provide the best for those willing to give the most. We give our time, sweat and expertise, but they are willing to give all that and more — even their lives.
Two phases later, the Nevada Joint Training Center stands ready — and so do the people who will walk its halls, drive its streets and put their training into action.
Here, officers, firefighters and medics rehearse the kinds of high-pressure scenarios that once caught the city off guard. They can sharpen communication. Strengthen coordination. And practice, again and again, to react with speed and strength.
It’s training designed to save lives — and to make sure that if the unthinkable happens again, Nevada’s first responders are ready.
