CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Montgomery County’s new training center will be known as the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Public Safety Training Complex.

A grand opening and ribbon cutting was held Tuesday for the facility, located at 2275 Dotsonville Road. The 326-acre location was formerly known as the Smith Farm, and it’s where Smith was born and raised. Smith was sheriff from 1978 to 1998, and was the longest-serving sheriff in the county’s history.

Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson and his family at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests at the grand opening of Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests at the grand opening of Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett at the grand opening of Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett speaks to guests at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The sign is unveiled at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
A ribbon cutting for the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Family members of former Montgomery County Sheriff Billy R. Smith at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
A marker honoring former Montgomery County Sheriff Billy R. Smith at the grand opening of the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex that bears his name on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The firearms range facility at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The firing range at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The firing range at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The firing range at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The firing range at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Emergency personnel with a robotic device at the grand opening of the the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County volunteer fire truck at the grand opening of the the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County volunteer personnel and fire truck at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Truck at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
First responder personnel at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
First responder personnel at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Emergency agency displays at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The firearms range facility at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson speaks to guests at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The firing range at the grand opening of the Sheriff Billy R. Smith Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex on, July 26, 2022. (Lee Erwin)

Montgomery County Government purchased the property in 2017 for $1.9 million, and public safety personnel immediately began using the site for training. The firearms range opened in 2021. There’s also a classroom and office space.

Along with the Sheriff’s Office, the complex will also be used for training by Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management Agency and Fire Service.

“It will bring a level of training that we haven’t had here before,” Sheriff John Fuson said. “We’ll be able to host and have training right here on this site, that otherwise we’d have to pay for and go off to other counties.”

The sheriff said in the future, training opportunities and classes may also be offered for the public.

This was the completion of Phase 1 of the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex. In other future phases of the complex, plans are under consideration to add a canine training course, a fire tower burn-building, an emergency vehicle operator course, and a residential training center with classrooms and dorms.