- Date published
In December, the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) conducted two nights of advanced active shooter response training inside the Missouri State Capitol, which was an unprecedented setting for this nationally recognized program. The training was made possible through DPS’s partnership with the Missouri State University Public Safety Training Center and the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, underscoring the university’s growing leadership role in statewide public safety preparedness.
“Recent history demands that law enforcement officers are as prepared as possible for active shooter attacks and know how to immediately respond, either alone or with just one or two other officers who first arrive on the scene,” Missouri Public Safety Director James said. “That’s why DPS partnered with the MSU Public Safety Training Center to fund ALERRT training for law enforcement across Missouri at no cost to the agencies and will continue to support this important research-based training.”
The training brought together officers from multiple agencies, including:
- Missouri Capitol Police
- The Missouri State Highway Patrol
- Missouri Senate and House security teams
- The Cole County Sheriff’s Office
- The Lincoln University Police Department
By training side by side, participants practiced responding as they would in a real active threat situation, often with only one officer or a small ad hoc team of responders from different agencies working together in the critical first moments.
“PSTC has delivered 65 classes statewide across a wide range of locations,” said Cody Brewington, director of the PSTC. “When I was assigned the Capitol project, I understood the significant logistical coordination required to ensure its success. Director Mark James, Deputy Director Troy Murdock, and the DPS Office of Homeland Security staff were instrumental in making this training possible. It was encouraging to see surrounding agencies come together to prepare collaboratively for an incident of this nature.”
The program, known as Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT), focuses on two primary objectives:
- Stopping the attacker as quickly as possible to eliminate the threat
- Treating the injured immediately to save lives
ALERRT leadership noted that this marked the first time ALERRT training has ever been conducted inside a state capitol building in the United States, making the event a significant milestone for both Missouri and the program nationally.
“It was a privilege to be able to conduct this training at the Capitol,” said Dr. Bill Sandel, assistant director of the School of Criminology & Criminal Justice. “I was able to speak with members of the Missouri General Assembly as well as the Governor’s Office about what makes the ALERRT training unique and how important it is for officers and civilians alike. We truly believe in this training and cannot thank our partners at DPS enough for their continued support.”
About ALERRT
Developed at Texas State University, ALERRT was designated by the FBI in 2013 as the national standard for active shooter training and response. The curriculum is research-based and continuously updated to reflect trends and lessons learned from real-world attacks and law enforcement responses across the country. Trainees work through a range of realistic scenarios, culminating in dynamic force-on-force exercises designed to test decision-making, coordination, and response under pressure.
Missouri’s ALERRT training program launched in January 2023 through a partnership between DPS and Missouri State University, supported by an initial $50,000 investment from DPS. That funding has since increased to $120,000 per year through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant Program, along with additional state investments in training equipment to expand capacity.
Using a “train-the-trainer” model, the program has built a statewide cadre of approximately 100 certified instructors. To date, nearly 1,000 Missouri law enforcement officers from more than 140 agencies have completed ALERRT training, significantly strengthening coordinated response capabilities across the state.
Preparation for Quick Action
The recent Capitol training featured ALERRT Level 1 instruction taught by a mix of retired and active law enforcement professionals. The Missouri State Public Safety Training Center and the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice’s involvement reflects Missouri State University’s continued commitment to applied learning, interagency collaboration, and public safety — helping ensure that first responders across Missouri are prepared to act quickly and effectively when lives are at stake.