Amid a battle over city bond money and rising costs, QuikTrip is stepping in with its largest gift ever to ensure DPD recruits get “next-generation” training.
DALLAS — QuikTrip announced Thursday it is donating $10 million toward the construction of the new Dallas Police Department training center, marking the largest single philanthropic gift in the company’s history.
The investment supports the capital campaign for the Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) at the University of North Texas at Dallas. The facility is expected to break ground this fall, providing immersive, real-world environments to prepare officers for the evolving challenges of modern policing. Officials say the current training center on Redbird Center Drive is outdated, falling apart and smells bad.
The massive private donation comes amid an ongoing funding battle for two new police training facilities – one at the University of North Texas at Dallas and one at the Dallas Executive Airport. Dallas city leaders have questioned project plans and rising costs, even weighing whether to ask voters for additional bond money to complete the facilities.
The cost of new training facilities is now estimated to cost nearly $400 million, up from a $140 million estimate in 2021.
“We recognize the important role that law enforcement plays in keeping our employees and customers safe, and we are honored to help make sure they have the best training and resources available to them,” said QuikTrip President Kevin Thornton.
Mayor Eric L. Johnson said the partnership between the private sector and city government is central to reinforcing Dallas as the safest big city in America.
“My highest priority is public safety, and I am grateful to QuikTrip for sharing that priority,” said Mayor Johnson.
“By providing best-in-class training to our police recruits, the new Law Enforcement Training Center will be central to reinforcing Dallas as the safest big city in America,” Johnson said. “Supported by QuikTrip’s generosity, we are setting up Dallas for long-term success.”
Police Chief Daniel Comeaux noted that the historic gift is an investment in the future of public safety.
“The challenges facing modern policing continue to evolve, and our responsibility is to ensure officers are prepared with the highest level of training possible,” Comeaux said.
This isn’t QuikTrip’s first investment in Dallas public safety; previous donations to the department include $1.6 million towards a training village and $500,000 for specialized blocker trucks to protect first responders at crash sites.