Freestone County law enforcement officers recently participated in specialized training provided by Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT).
The two, 2-day classes focused on active shooter response training and solo officer deployment, equipping the officers with the skills necessary to respond to active shooter situations.
Deputies of the Freestone County Sheriff’s Department, Wortham Police Department, and Constable Buck Bonner joined by fellow officers from agencies all over Texas, and even as far as Anchorage, Alaska, attended extensive training last week in Fairfield.
Participants reviewed response protocols and learned tactics for handling active shooter situations, as well as training in the use of life saving tourniquets.
More than 105,000 law enforcement officers across the nation have been trained in ALERRT operations and tactics to respond to active shooter situations. This vital training is delivered by veteran law enforcement SWAT specialists with proven experience in active shooter response and police training.
This unique training session was the first to employ the use of live fire, as officers learned to navigate an active shooter situation on their own, practicing single officer rapid deployment and shoot/no shoot scenarios.
“We just saw a need for training for officers who encounter this kind of thing while off duty. We give them the skills and abilities to handle it,” said ALERRT instructor Chief Dave Thomas, of the Lufkin Police Department.
ALERRT training is offered through Texas State University and entirely grant funded, open to all United States peace officers. Classes are provided all around the country using the latest equipment and tactics.
The Freestone County Sheriff’s Office requires all deputies to be undergo rapid response team training.
“We make arrangements to keep our guys trained up and ready,” said Sheriff Jeremy Shipley.
“We are always looking to get the necessary training that we think we need to protect and serve our citizens.”
