Despite some pushback, Durham County commissioners on Monday approved a multi-million dollar plan to upgrade the Durham County Sheriff's Office's training facility.

The project has been more than eight years and includes several upgrades the facility hadn't seen since the 1980s.

Currently, the facility has:

Sheriff Clarence Burkhead told WRAL News on Monday, Jan. 6, that he's fought for the upgrades since he became sheriff in 2018.

"This an upgrade to our facility that we've had for the better part of 30 to 40 years," Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said. "It's adding a classroom, shelter, bathrooms. It's giving us more security where we can hold evidence and hold civil auctions. Yes, there is an enhancement to our firing range because we are mandated to train and become efficient with weapons."

The facility upgrades, which will add 10,000 square feet to the building and renovate the firing range, are expected to cost around $16 million.

Ahead of Monday's meeting, many felt the money was too much for an agency that uses $50 million in county tax dollars.

Some protesters showed up to the meeting on Monday to voice their opposition to the project ahead of the vote.