The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training  (ALERRT) mission is to teach law enforcement officers, specifically the true first responders, to safely and effectively respond to - address - and stop an active shooter.

Since 2002, we have trained more than 22,000 first responding patrol officers in the ALERRT Active Shooter program. ALERRT has been awarded more than $20 million in federal and state funds to bring this Rapid Response training to frontline officers across Texas and the nation.

We continue to surpass the basic goals of the ALERRT program - offering proven tactical training to first responders, preparing them to protect their communities and to save lives. This training must be affordable for all who needed it. It shall not be exclusively conducted as classroom setting. It must encompass force-on-force scenarios, active shooter, and survival stress reaction. Most importantly, this training must be delivered by veteran field officers with personal "boots on the ground" life experience in the realities of this new kind of terrorism that threatens our communities.

ALERRT is a partnership project of Texas State University-San Marcos, the City of San Marcos, Texas, and Hays County, Texas.
This training is made possible in part through funding from the Texas Governor's Office Criminal Justice Division, the US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance; and Department of Homeland Security Office of Grants and Training.

The ALERRT program is open to all state-certified peace officers, federal law enforcement officers and military personnel in good standing with their units.

As of Fall, 2009, we have delivered this active shooter training to more than 22,000 law enforcement officers across the country. The demand for training continues to outweigh the funding we receive, but with the Train-the-Trainer program, we seek to meet that challenge by helping to move the training forward through certified trainers. We continue to seek funding for this vital training. We maintain a request list of agencies across the country who are seeking this vital training.

Our Goal
The goal of the First Responder to Active Shooter course is to aid law enforcement officers, specifically the true first responders, in their ability to safely and effectively respond to - address - and stop an active shooter.

Background
The tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado changed the way law enforcement reacts to active shooting situations. When two students took control of Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, the first responding patrol officers established a perimeter and called in the SWAT team. For 45 minutes, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had free rein of the school before the SWAT team made entry. During this 45 minutes, the shooters killed 13 people, critically wounded 24 and injured more than 160 others. The first responders were crucified in the media for their perceived lack of response to the unfolding events at Columbine High School. What the media and public did not understand was that the first responders acted as they had been trained and conditioned to do. This tragedy identified weaknesses and outdated philosophies in tactical training and response.More about ALERRT.....