South Plains College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center in Building Three of the Reese Center.
The partnership between SPC and Texas State University has resulted in a ALERRT Regional Training Center coming to fruition at the SPC Reese Center.
SPC is the first community college as well as the first recognized regional training facility in the state of Texas for ALERRT training.
SPC Department Chair and Law Enforcement Academy Coordinator Kenny Burns opened the ceremony with an introduction highlighting the training center. He explained that the training center will allow peace officers to receive the most current and fluid training.
With Senate Bill 1852 passed on May 19 and will be effective September 1, the state is requiring all Texas peace officers to complete active shooter training.
Burns thanked the SPC Administration and Board of Regents for staying ahead of the times as numerous trainings have already been held at the facility with more scheduled in the coming months.
“I’d like to thank our SPC Administration and Board of Regents for not only their constant support, but their support for law enforcement in general.” said Burns.
SPC President Robin Satterwhite expressed his gratefulness to the individuals in attendance to help celebrate the new training facility.
“We are very fortunate at South Plains College to have these facilities, our college, our students, but were also grateful to our communities that support us,” said Satterwhite.
Satterwhite expressed how proud he was for the college to become an integral part of the new training program.
“We know that the training program has been going on for a long time now, but to have a particular place for it here in West Texas makes us grateful to be a part of that,” said Satterwhite.
Satterwhite hopes the college and surrounding communities never have to experience a mass shooting situation, but shared how proud he was for the men and women who take the stand to protect the communities and families within the area.
Satterwhite encouraged a round of applause for the law enforcement officers in attendance at the ceremony as he thanked those individuals for their continuous work to provide a safe community for all.
“We have a long tradition here at South Plains College of training law enforcement personnel and this is an exciting growth in that program,” explained Satterwhite. “We are excited about training the next group of law enforcement personnel who will be coming in and trying to be particularly trained in keeping our communities and schools safe.”
Although those attending the academy are already on a regular basis, Satterwhite says the training program is a growth from what is already in place and an extension of what there already is.
“I would like to congratulate everyone who was involved with establishing this relationship with ALERRT,” said Satterwhite. “We look forward to continuing to train the very best and provide a resource to all of our law enforcement personnel through the region.”
Speaking on the behalf of ALERRT was Regional Manager Sam Stock. In his role, Stock covers the South Plains as well as West Texas.
“I would like to thank everyone for the contributions you have made for this project, it has been phenomenal and impactful,” said Stock.
Stock included research that shows recent active attacks are on the rise with a mean of 45 per year. With incidents such as Santa Fe and Uvalde, Stock explained that no one is truly isolated from those types of incidents.
“The ALERRT Program is a state funded program being line item funded and we are dedicated to providing the best research training to our nations law enforcement professionals,” said Stock. “We train and we give our first responders the best training that we possibly can. We give them goals and that is to move to the sound of gun fire and do the brave things that they do.”
Stock also added that their goals include stopping the killing and do it rapidly. Then transition to stopping the dying and start to provide medical attention to those in need. The last goal is to get folks to a higher level of care.
“I am excited for the active shooting training opportunities that will be available to first responders in the Texas Panhandle and the South Plains,” said Stock. “This training intiative will benefit the area’s first responders with courses such as basic active shooting training, medical interventions, integrated response between police, fire and EMS and hopefully in the future we will having breaching opportunities as well.”
The Memorandum of Understanding signing will allow the facility to deliver effective active shooter training resulting in roughly 38 courses annually and 400-plus officers trained in the region.
The grant-based project allows participants to attend the classes at no charge.
Burns says ALERRT is known throughout the United States as the leading authority on active shooters.
The first slate of courses began this month with an Active Attack Integrated Response Court began June 2 and will finish July 29. Active Shooter Level One is scheduled, June 26-30. A Level One course will be July 10-11, and a Civilian Response and Casualty Care Course will be July 12-13. An Exterior Response to Active Shooter Events Course will be August 2-4, and a Solo Officer Rapid Deployment Course will be August 21-25.
“We are extremely proud of their accomplishments and we are thankful to the brave heroes out there,” said Stock. “We look forward to training with you.