Retired Texas Ranger GW Hildebrand gets a twinkle in his eye when he talks about Austin Community College’s new Hays Criminal Justice and Emergency Training facility in Kyle.

A former state trooper, FBI profiler and Texas Ranger, Hildebrand now heads ACC’s Criminal Justice Department and gave a tour of the new facility to area officials and business leaders.

The closest facility with even comparable training capabilities is as far away as the Dallas-Fort Worth area or Texas A&M.

The...