Cornyns POLICE Act to open up grant funding for first responder training recently signed into law
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas (AUSTIN) U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) will visit the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University today to discuss the importance of active shooter response training and observe an active shooter simulation. The success of the ALERRT program provided the basis for the
POLICE Act a bill Sen. Cornyn authored with U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-TX) that was signed into law last month and enables local law enforcement and first responders to use federal grant funding for active shooter response training.
Sen. Cornyn will hold a roundtable with ALERRT trainers law enforcement from San Antonio Austin and surrounding communities who have received ALERRT training and first responders who will be able to use federal grants to pay for this training because of the
POLICE Act. The discussion will focus on how ALERRT training has already benefitted their communities and how the
POLICE Act will provide opportunities for enhanced training to respond to the current threat environment. Following the roundtable ALERRT will demonstrate a live active shooter scenario with integrated response from police fire and EMS departments.
Following the demonstration Sen. Cornyn will hold a joint press conference with local first responders ALERRT trainers and stakeholders.
Background on the POLICE Act:
The
Protecting Our Lives through Initiating COPS Expansion (POLICE) Act allows local law enforcement and other first responders to use Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) federal grants to train and better prepare for active shooter situations encouraging participation in programs like ALERRT. Specifically it promotes new integrated response training for local law enforcement fire and EMS departments. The bill was signed into law by the President on July 22 2016 and is supported by the Texas Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge and many other law enforcement groups.
WHO:
- U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
- Dr. Gene Bourgeois Provost & VP of Academic Affairs Texas State University
- Dr. Christine Sellers Director School of Criminal Justice at Texas State University
- Christopher Combs Special Agent in Charge Federal Bureau of Investigation
- John Curnutt Director of Training ALERRT
- William McManus Police Chief City of San Antonio
- Chase Stapp Police Chief City San Marcos
- Les Stephens Fire Chief City of San Marcos
WHEN:
- Wednesday August 3 2016
- 9:35am Roundtable begins
- 10:20am Live demonstration of active shooter response training
- 10:35am Press conference
WHERE:
- ALERRT Center
- 1285 William Pettus Road
- Maxwell TX 78656
