DURANT, OK -- Deadly shootings like the Colorado theater massacre and the Sandy Hook school shooting have spurred law enforcement across the country and here at home to evaluate their readiness for any possible encounters with an active shooter.
The Durant Police Department is hosting the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response or "ALERRT" class. It is a 16-hour course that includes both classroom and scenario based training. Tuesday we were allowed to see only some of the tactics used.
ALERRT is teaching Texoma officers how to handle a weapon, communicate and make tough decisions during the event of an active shooting.
"In this society we live in now we have active shooter situations not only in schools but in workplaces," Captain Woodruff said.
Captain Mike Woodruff with the Durant Police Department says foot movement and gun control are key when trying to stop a shooter.
"When you arrive tactics, time is critical. So once you arrive everybody knows what the other person is going to do so you can cut down that time to react," Capt. Woodruff said.
"This is the first experience for me with this type of training," Chief Gene Dodson said.
After recent mass shootings Atoka Police Chief Gene Dodson wants to be better prepared.
"There is an increased need for it and I'm afraid it's when if not if," Dodson said.
Lt. Scott Hampton with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol says these skills are important for every officer and first responder to learn.
"We had the Silo school lock down a couple weeks ago, and at the first start of any of those types of situations we treat them as worse case scenario then scale that back as needed," Lt. Hampton said.
"Every second matters so the more trained they are the better they can respond to those situations and the more swiftly they can deal with the problems," Lt. Hampton said.
ALERRT is coordinated through "CLEET"
During part of this training officers will practice at an vacant S-O-S-U dorm.
Captain Woodruff says they will be holding an active shooter training course for telecommunicators next month.
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ALERRT Class