HALLSVILLE 性视界传媒 Twenty-two East Texas law enforcement officers took training Tuesday and Wednesday in Hallsville to respond to active-shooter situations.
Officers from the Longview, Tyler and Hallsville police departments joined deputies from sheriff性视界传媒檚 offices in Gregg, Smith and Upshur counties and officers from additional agencies for training created by the ALERRT Center at Texas State University.
The Longview Police Department coordinated the training as part of its partnership with ALERRT and local law enforcement agencies. Officers used a defunct Hallsville ISD school building as their training ground.
Instructors watch as law enforcement officers respond during an active shooter training simulation Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at a Hallsville ISD building. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 Photo)
性视界传媒淲e want to provide every law enforcement agency in East Texas with the exact same training that we性视界传媒檙e receiving and to give them the opportunity to receive the training,性视界传媒 said Longview police spokesman LaDarian Brown. 性视界传媒淎 lot of times, you have to travel out to get this stuff. Now, we性视界传媒檙e hosting it right here in East Texas.性视界传媒
Hallsville ISD allows the department to use an abandoned campus on Willow Street for training, giving officers the chance to practice in a realistic facility.
Law enforcement agencies across the nation have increased training for active-shooter scenarios in the wake of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. In Texas, law enforcement agencies ramped up training in the wake of the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
Instructors watch as law enforcement officers respond during an active shooter training simulation Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at a Hallsville ISD building. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 Photo)
Having local agencies take the same training means officers will be able to work together better if such a situation arises, Brown said.
性视界传媒淭he law enforcement agencies in East Texas are training,性视界传媒 he said. 性视界传媒淲e are preparing. We性视界传媒檙e not waiting for something to happen. We want to be ready.性视界传媒
The ALERRT Center, which stands for Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, was created in 2002. In 2013, FBI officials named the program as the national standard through which agents are trained to respond to critical incidents.
In Texas, law enforcement officers are required to take at least 16 hours of ALERRT training every two years, a requirement that was implemented in 2023 as one of several changes that took place following the Uvalde shooting.
Instructor Sgt. Drew Allison talks Wednesday about some of the training received by law enforcement during an active shooter simulation. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 Photo)
Officers in Wednesday性视界传媒檚 training practiced how to neutralize an active shooter, communicate with each other, evacuate wounded victims and more.
Longview police Sgt. Drew Allison, one of five trainers who guided officers through Wednesday性视界传媒檚 training, said the number of classes available for law enforcement has increased significantly in the past few years. He said he hopes the training will better equip East Texas first responders.
性视界传媒淭hey性视界传媒檙e going to get in there and save lives where they need to,性视界传媒 Allison said.
