New Orleans Police Unveil Advanced Shoot House for Officer Training

The NOPD's new 4,000-square-foot facility will allow officers to simulate high-risk operations and sharpen critical skills.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:11pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a police-issued handgun magazine against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the gritty, investigative nature of law enforcement training.The NOPD's new shoot house will allow officers to train for the unpredictable realities of high-risk operations, sharpening critical skills and building confidence.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Police Department is set to open a new state-of-the-art 'shoot house' facility within its Special Operations Division. The 4,000-square-foot training center will allow officers to simulate a wide range of high-risk scenarios, including night raids, barricaded subjects, and executing arrest warrants. The facility was funded through private donations and will be available to local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.

Why it matters

The new shoot house represents a significant investment in officer training, which is often one of the first things cut from police budgets despite being a critical component of effective and safe policing. By allowing officers to practice high-stress situations in a controlled environment, the NOPD aims to build confidence, sharpen skills, and reduce the risk of excessive use of force incidents.

The details

The new 4,000-square-foot shoot house facility includes a climbing station, rappel station, furnished upstairs area, two-car garage, catwalk for trainers, and a 'blackout room' to simulate low-light conditions. Officers can reconfigure the modular walls and doors to replicate the layouts of specific target locations, allowing them to rehearse planned operations. The facility can also be used for post-incident review to analyze what went right or wrong during a training exercise.

  • The new shoot house facility is set to open in about a month.
  • The NOPD previously had access to a smaller shoot house and the facility in St. Tammany Parish, but the new center represents a significant upgrade in capabilities.

The players

Captain Preston Bax

The head of the NOPD's Special Operations Division, which oversees the new shoot house facility.

Officer Devon Joseph Sr.

A 25-year veteran of the NOPD who has spent 21 years assigned to the Special Operations Division.

Aaron Looney

The NOPD's public information officer.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is unprecedented for NOPD. Unprecedented. We never had anything like this.”

— Captain Preston Bax, Head of NOPD Special Operations Division

“All this stuff is a craft. It's a skill. You've got to keep doing it.”

— Captain Preston Bax, Head of NOPD Special Operations Division

“A lot of times, we hit the same houses. So when we hit that house again, everybody's on the same page. Everything somebody did in the room, we're going to go over it. That's part of being the best.”

— Officer Devon Joseph Sr., 25-year NOPD veteran

What’s next

The new shoot house facility is scheduled to open in the coming month, allowing the NOPD to begin utilizing the advanced training center for its officers.

The takeaway

The NOPD's investment in this state-of-the-art shoot house facility underscores the critical importance of comprehensive and realistic training for law enforcement. By providing officers the opportunity to rehearse high-risk scenarios in a controlled environment, the department aims to build confidence, sharpen skills, and ultimately enhance public safety through more effective and restrained use of force.