The old Fort Worth Police Officers Association building in the 900 block of Collier Street is being torn down.
During the next 2 weeks, construction workers will slowly rip apart and tear down the structure. They can't demolish it or implode it all at once because of a shared wall with an office building next door, so they're doing it piecemeal.
Because the building is coming down anyway, the Fort Worth SWAT team wanted to practice explosive-ordinance breaching a door and rescuing a hostage.
"To get an opportunity to train in a building that's being demolitioned is a unique opportunity for us," SWAT Commander Lt. Michael Shedd said. "It's a unique opportunity and we always try to take advantage of them."
Shedd said the building itself is also unique to them.
"It's got a different type of glass, it's tempered glass, the doors are unique, the locking mechanism with metal and metal is unique," he said. "Residential structures are typically wood on wood."
A new 5-story building for the POA is being built and should be completed by the of December. POA officials said the goal is to "start moving our computers in by Christmas week." The top floor has an open outdoor patio space with downtown views that can be rented by the public for weddings or events.
