Prisoners in the Saginaw Correctional Facility’s (SRF) Prison Build Program constructed the walls for two buildings that are helping local law enforcement officials and the prison train officers.

Tim Hunnicutt, Prison Build Program superintendent, designed and helped coordinate the construction of both buildings along with others.

One – a 30 by 50 foot building – is being used at a firearms training center near Auburn. It will provide storage, shelter and classroom instruction.

The other – a 1,100 square foot house – will be used for tactical training by personnel in drug enforcement, canine units, hostage recovery and by SWAT and ERT.

Hunnicutt said the house will provide a realistic opportunity for law enforcement officers to practice scenarios involving residential settings.

The two buildings were assembled at the construction site by State Police, the Bay County Sheriff’s Department, the Auburn City Police, Delta Law Enforcement and SRF employees.

Materials were paid for by grant money received by the City of Auburn and range rental fees collected by groups that will use the facility.

“By using the Prison Build Program and volunteer labor at the site, the local law enforcement community was able to triple the size of the training facility and add the tactical training house to the project,” Hunnicutt said.

He thanked Warden Barbara Bock and Deputy Warden Erick Balcarcel for their support and openness to working with the agencies.