Pittsburg State University announced a new partnership Thursday with another state agency.
PSU will partner with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to create a state-of-the-art regional crime center and laboratory that would serve law enforcement and at the same time provide educational opportunities for the next generation of forensic scientists and criminal justice professionals.
The KBI’s current regional office, located on North Broadway in Pittsburg, opened in 1999 in a rented property built in the 1950s. The university will expand its education offerings in the Criminal Justice field with the expected goal of doubling the number of graduates. The estimated cost is $40 million, which would be provided from a mix of state and federal funds.
The timeline calls for groundbreaking in January 2025, and completion in July 2026. However, before a long-term solution can be reached, the Bureau needs a short-term solution.
Until that facility can be completed, KBI and Pitt State will work together to create a temporary space for the KBI in the Tyler Research Center, home to the National Institute for Materials Advancement, which is located on South Rouse near the targeted site for the crime center’s future home. Modifications have begun on the temporary space with an anticipated move-in next Spring.
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