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](/sites/default/files/styles/16_9_800x450/public/2018-07/public-safety-center-of-excellence.jpg?itok=gc-9bn8x)
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](/sites/default/files/styles/3_2_801x534/public/2018-07/public-safety-center-of-excellence.jpg?itok=1L8bV72F)
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.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/cpat-1_0.jpg?itok=EQDfquK2)
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Facility
![A field near a forested area, with two large boulders in the foreground.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2018-08/wilderness-training-area-search-rescue-swat.jpg?itok=NVDEMhwq)
Wilderness Training Area for Search & Rescue and SWAT
![A deer stand mounted in a tree in the woods at the Public Safety Center of Excellence](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2018-08/deer-stand-approach-rescue-training-site.jpg?itok=ILlP-RSg)
Deer Stand Approach & Rescue Training Site
![An oil tanker railcar sits in a gravel area.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2018-08/railroad-crossing-railcar-training-area.jpg?itok=b-CW5hGF)
Railroad Crossing and Railcar Training Area
![Two conex shipping containers are positioned side by side with a gap in-between to simulate a trench above the ground.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/trench-rescue-training-2.jpg?itok=ERLoWLK9)
Trench Rescue Training
![Large cement pipes are positioned in a field to simulate a search and rescue mission within confined spaces.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/collapsed-structure-1_0.jpg?itok=Bkvi7B9r)
Collapsed Venues for Search & Rescue and K9 Training
![A paved roadway with one yellow stripe down the center.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2018-08/two-lane-roadway-dot-signage-centerline-fog-line.jpg?itok=6KCVbPef)
Two-Lane Roadway With DOT Signage, Centerline and Fog Line
![A white Travel Trailer is set up next to a family picnic table on a flat grassy area next to trees and bushes.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/campsite-2_0.jpg?itok=W_eyZrlI)
Campsite Approach Training With Camper and Clandestine Lab
![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.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2018-08/air-medical-landing-zone.jpg?itok=wl-lCUSx)
Air Medical Landing Zone Training Site and Roundabout
![A water rescue area with an ambulance parked in the foreground and a helicopter flying overhead.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2018-08/water-rescue-site.jpg?itok=hbF9tJiU)
Water Rescue and Recovery Training Site With Dry Hydrant Location for Rural Fire Water Operations
![A building set up for search and rescue training, with several rooms made of plywood and a catwalk above.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/search-rescue-building-catwalk_0.jpg?itok=6OQtbV5t)
Search and Rescue Building With Instructor Catwalk
![A mock restaurant named called “Mike's Diner” with 4 windows and one door.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2018-08/restaurant-response-training.jpg?itok=-5TuJOkN)
Restaurant Response Training
![A light blue and white, small family mobile home with wooden stairs leading up to a door with a glass window.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/mobile-home-3_0.jpg?itok=tTWfdlrv)
Mobile Home Response Site
![A tall wooden structure with stairs and balconies designed for live fire, confined space, and search and rescue scenarios.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/splash-tower-3.jpg?itok=CVbmJsQS)
Fire Splash Tower
![A utility pole with power lines are on top of a red SUV and a beige colored minivan.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/down-line-1_0.jpg?itok=jhD6MnlF)
Vehicle Extrication Pad and Downed Power Lines Simulator
![Natural gas supplies are hooked up to a black residential propane cylinder that is engulfed in flames.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/lp-burn-simulator-1_0.jpg?itok=ox8x3mRd)
LP Burn Simulators for Fire Training
![A four story burn tower with many doors, windows, stairs, balconies, and areas that are open and enclosed.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/burn-tower-1_0.jpg?itok=zYqg43d3)
4-Story Certified Burn Tower With Rope Rappelling Capabilities
![A single family home set up in a field.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/single-family-home-1_0.jpg?itok=Tz7rqisT)
Single Family Home With Basement
![Village of mock storefronts for urban simulation training.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/emergency-village-1_0.jpg?itok=AuGtj3mK)
Four “Main St.” Business District Buildings (Emergency Village) for Urban Simulation Trainings
![Indoor shooting simulator using a projector and large screen mounted to one wall in a classroom.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2018-08/indoor-shooting-simulator.jpg?itok=MAd4tjWh)
Indoor Shooting Simulator
![EVOC Skidpad with cones set up and lines painted on the pavement.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2018-08/evoc-cevo-skid-pad.jpg?itok=oYLer32d)
EVOC Skid Pad and Defensive Driving Area
![A two story, beige colored control tower with a porte-cochere and large windows designed for observation.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/control-tower-2_0.jpg?itok=ArSJ3QLZ)
State-Of-The-Art Control Tower and Technology Center With Briefing Room and Classroom
![Several gas utility pipes with various settings and gauges at the NTC leak detection field.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/natural-gas-detection-field-2_0.jpg?itok=pgt0taHm)
Natural Gas Leak Detection Field
![A view of a DOT regulated traffic standards area, including traffic lights at an intersection.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/traffic-standards-1_0.jpg?itok=B-riD6Rg)
DOT Regulated Traffic Standards
![An indoor shooting range with several standing targets featuring a picture of an armed criminal on each one.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/tactical-saftey-range-20_1.jpg?itok=zv4A4Hju)
Tactical Safety Range
![A large command center attached to a three stall apparatus bay with two NTC squad vehicles and a fire truck parked outside.](/sites/default/files/styles/cards/public/2021-09/command-center-1_0.jpg?itok=epmyxy3-)
Classroom Location With Three Classrooms
Reserve Training Facilities
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 call us or complete the following form and someone from the School of Public Safety will follow up with you.
Phone: 715.348.7205
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](/sites/default/files/styles/3_2_801x534/public/2021-11/public-safety-center-excellence-tactical.jpg?itok=B1ZodFqa)