Henry County commissioners table sheriff’s proposal for officer training center
Former Camp SAYLA facility would be converted under stalled plan
ABBEVILLE, Ala. (WTVY) - Henry County commissioners tabled a proposal on Tuesday that would convert the former Camp SAYLA juvenile facility into a law enforcement training center.
Sheriff Eric Blankenship had requested approval to transform the abandoned building, which once housed a juvenile behavior center that closed amid allegations of misconduct.
“It would give us a great place to train,” Blankenship said. “It would give us the ability to have a place where we could host classes, we could bring more specialized classes here, and get better training for our officers to help the citizens.”
The commissioners decided to postpone the decision to examine funding and operational costs more closely.
“We tabled it to look at some more, the cost input funding and getting it back up to operation,” said Ray Marler, Henry County judge and commission chairman.
Blankenship said the training center would provide his department with more space for education and training.
Currently, officers must travel to a shared facility in Dothan, where space is limited.
“If we had our own place, it’s a lot easier scheduling classes, hosting classes, and everything else if we have our own facility to do so,” Blankenship said.
The sheriff said he wants to proceed without creating a financial burden for the county.
Marler indicated the commission remains open to the proposal once concerns are addressed.
“But I really think once the sheriff brings that information back to us, we’ll be good to go,” Marler said. “It’s a great place and it’ll be a great asset for our sheriff’s department.”
Blankenship said he respects the commission’s decision and promises to do what it takes to make Camp SAYLA work as a training center.
Earlier this year, an effort had been made to reopen Camp SAYLA, but those plans fell through.
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