Avondale Police Department opens $4 million K-9 training center

A new training facility for K-9 units of the Avondale Police Department held its ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.

Jul 24, 2025, 3:30 PM Updated: Jul 25, 2025, 12:54 pm

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PHOENIX — A new training facility for K-9 units of the Avondale Police Department held its ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.

The department says the $3.96 million facility — built just off Buckeye and Dysart roads — is the latest public safety investment by the city of Avondale.

The facility is comprised of 5,600 square feet of outdoor, obstacle-filled training courses in addition to 3,900 square feet of indoor space for K-9 wellness checks, storage space and individual kennels.

It also has space for physical fitness exams for Avondale police applicants and for assessments of current officers.

Avondale Police Chief Memo Espinoza said he’s grateful to the city council and management for providing the resources to K-9s and officers, calling them “trusted partners, loyal guardians and essential members of our law enforcement family.”

Attending the Wednesday opening were members of the city council, police personnel and Avondale Mayor Mike Pineda.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Pineda called the facility “a major step forward for our police department and community,” adding he would support “progress and protection, paw by paw.”

The K-9 facility is located three blocks east of the Avondale Police Detention Center, which opened its doors in October 2024.