New ALERRT Center facilities approved by TSUS Board of Regents

The Texas State University System Board of Regents has approved the construction of new facilities for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University. 

The board approved the project during its quarterly meeting February 12 at Lamar University in Beaumont. 

The project will address ALERRT’s growing need for more space to deliver its Integrated Response Training Program, which provides scenario-based training that prepares officers and other first responders to safely and effectively handle active-shooter and other violent threats.

“ALERRT is the national standard in active attack response training. The upgrades and additions coming to our training facility will help us carry out our work more efficiently and effectively,” said Pete Blair, executive director of the ALERRT Center.

“We are thankful to the Board of Regents, Texas State University leaders and the Texas Legislature for their support as we work to train first responders to save lives.”

The project, which has an estimated cost of approximately $25 million, would fund a new 14,800 square-foot administration building that includes office and conference space for 30-40 employees and an attached 16,400 square-foot, climate-controlled logistics warehouse for training equipment. The project also includes 117 parking spaces, utility improvements, perimeter security fencing and controlled security entrances.

Currently, the ALERRT Center consists of several small buildings, shooting ranges and training areas which are inadequate to support the increased demand for education and training by law enforcement agencies. 

ALERRT was created as a partnership between Texas State, the San Marcos Police Department and the Hays County Sheriff’s Office to address the need for active shooter response training for first responders. The FBI recognizes the ALERRT Level I program as the national standard in active shooter response training.

Since 2002, ALERRT has successfully delivered training across the nation with more than $190 million in federal and state funding. More than 350,000 state, local and tribal first responders (including nearly 250,000 law enforcement officers) have received ALERRT training to date, all at no cost to first responders or their agencies. In addition to in-depth after-action lessons learned through partnerships with agencies that have been involved in headline-making active shooter situations, ALERRT has established a criminal justice research department to evaluate and enhance the overall understanding of active shooter events and assist in improving law enforcement best practices.

ALERRT also hosts a national integrated response conference each fall. The ALERRT Active Shooter Integrated Response Conference is the only national conference bridging law enforcement, fire and EMS responses to active shooter/attack events. 

For more information, visit alerrt.org.