ALERRT Center receives additional federal funding

SAN MARCOS—The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center has received an additional $300,000 in funding from the Federal Government, officials at Texas State University-San Marcos announced Tuesday, Nov. 15.

The ALERRT Center provides training for first responding police officers to more effectively respond to episodes of violence before they evolve into full-blown tragedies.

ALEERT employs “First Responder Tactics” and “Active Shooter Tactics” based on lessons learned from historical homicidal/suicidal acts of violence, such as that which happened at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. This is critically important training for regular patrol officers who are typically the first responders to violent events.

“We are grateful to the efforts of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and to Congressmen Henry Cuellar and Chet Edwards for their efforts in securing this funding,” said Denise M. Trauth, president of Texas State. “The training provided by ALERRT Center instructors makes this nation’s law enforcement agencies more effective and that helps all of us.”

ALERRT has been training first responding police officers since 2002. As the ALERRT program entered the 2006 fiscal year, more than 4,600 officers from 567 agencies throughout Texas and across the United States had
received this important training.

November marks the second year of a partnership with Texas A&M University’s Texas Engineering Extension Service. TEEX manages many of the ALERRT Center’s administrative and logistical duties involved in
coordinating the program.

A center within Texas State’s Department of Criminal Justice, ALERRT’s partners also include the City of San Marcos, Hays County, Gary Job Corps and the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association.