In Montgomery County, we hope that evil never visits our schools or our businesses. But as conservatives, we know that hope is not a strategy. Preparation is a strategy.
After the tragedy in Uvalde, politicians across the country offered thoughts, political rhetoric, and calls for more gun control. In Montgomery County, we took a different path. We decided to build a “shield of training” around our community that is unmatched anywhere else in Texas.
As your County Judge and Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, I am proud to highlight one of the most significant public safety achievements: the establishment of the Montgomery County Reality Based Training Center (RBTC) in New Caney.
A First-of-Its-Kind Facility in Texas
This facility is not just a shooting range. It is the first dedicated, year-round Reality-Based Training Center in the state that utilizes a fully repurposed school campus for “force-on-force” training.
Located in a decommissioned school building, the center allows law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS crews to train in a real-world environment. They don’t practice in empty warehouses; they practice in real hallways, real classrooms, and real cafeterias.
Why does this matter? Because when seconds count, muscle memory takes over. By training our deputies, troopers, and local police in a facility that mirrors the exact environments they protect, we ensure that if they ever have to breach a door to save our children, they will do so with hesitation-free precision.
Conservative Innovation: Saving Lives and Tax Dollars
This project is a perfect example of conservative governance.
Instead of asking taxpayers for $50 million to build a new concrete complex, we partnered with local stakeholders to repurpose a vacant asset. We took an empty building and turned it into a world-class life-saving facility.
Furthermore, I worked tirelessly alongside our local law enforcement leaders and our state delegation—including Senator Brandon Creighton and Rep. Steve Toth—to secure state support and recognition for this facility.
- State-Wide Resource: Because of its unique capabilities, this facility now serves as a regional hub, training first responders from across Texas.
- Zero Cost to Agencies: Crucially, we have structured this so that it provides training free of charge to agencies. This ensures that a lack of budget never prevents a police department from getting the advanced active shooter training they need.
Promoting a Culture of Deterrence
My goal as your County Judge is to promote a “Culture of Deterrence” in Montgomery County. I want every criminal and every individual with evil intent to know one thing: If you come to Montgomery County to harm our children, you will be met by the most highly trained, aggressive, and prepared law enforcement professionals in the nation.
We are not just Backing the Blue with slogans; we are backing them with the best training tools in the world.
Looking Forward
Securing the future of the Reality Based Training Center is just one piece of the puzzle. As we move into 2026, I remain committed to ensuring our Sheriff’s Office and Constables have every resource necessary to keep the peace.
We are leading the way for Texas. We are putting the safety of our families first. And we are doing it responsibly.
— Mark Keough Montgomery County Judge
