(This was a joint news release issued through Missouri State University on Jan. 17, 2023.)

Law enforcement agencies across Missouri will have access to free active shooter training thanks to a new agreement between Missouri State University and Missouri Department of Public Safety.

The training curriculum is through the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center.

“This partnership will provide the national standard for active shooter training throughout the state of Missouri, which betters law enforcement and makes communities safer,” said Dr. Bill Sandel, assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at Missouri State.

MSU will facilitate the training with funding from Missouri Department of Public Safety. Missouri DPS awarded MSU $50,000 through the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to support the training.

“As we’ve seen across the nation, active shooters pose a threat to communities large and small,” Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. “This free training through MSU will make available to law enforcement across our state dynamic active shooter response training that is recognized as the national standard.”

Training requests

Agencies that want to host the training must contact Cody Brewington, director of the Public Safety Training Center at Missouri State: 417-836-8974 or CodyBrewington@MissouriState.edu.

About ALERRT

The ALERRT Center is based at Texas State University. Created in 2002, it was a partnership among Texas State, the City of San Marcos Police Department and the Hays County, Texas Sherriff’s Office to address the need for active shooter response training for first responders.

In 2013, the FBI named ALERRT at Texas State the national standard in active shooter response training. It has trained more than 130,000 law enforcement and fire officials nationwide in dynamic, force-on-force scenario-based training.

For more information, call 573-751-5432 or e-mail mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov