The Department of Justice announced a new $8.7 million grant Thursday morning to fund active shooting training for first responders across the country.
“Training for first responders to take swift and effective action in active shooting situations is critically important,” Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio announced at the annual ALERRT Active Shooter Integrated Response Conference. “We can mitigate the loss of life in these horrific incidents by providing resources to better equip first responders and prepare community members, local law enforcement, and local government leaders. The Department of Justice fully supports the brave first responders who risk their own lives to protect the safety of our children, colleagues, and community members.”
The curriculum will be produced by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University and will provide "multi-disciplinary, scenario-based active shooter training." More than 13,000 first responders have completely some type of training through the center over the years.
“This COPS funding will allow ALERRT to provide the training needed to prepare police, fire, and EMS services across the country to save as many lives as possible when these horrific attacks occur,” Executive Director of the ALERRT Center at Texas State University Dr. Pete Blair said in a statement.
The news comes just days after a man killed 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. When first responders arrived on scene to help, he turned his gun on the police.
