Carter hosts tour and briefings at ALERRT facility for first responders

U.S. Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX) recently hosted a tour and briefings at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) facility at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Participants in the tour included city and county officials, police and fire department chiefs, and emergency medical services representatives from Bell and Williamson Counties.

The event included drills and exercises used by first responders during an active shooter situation and also included a Congressional Achievement Award Ceremony where Carter recognized ALERRT and Texas State University for efforts in life-saving training.

“The threat of active shooters is increasingly real as we have seen in Dallas, Orlando, and San Bernardino,” Carter said. “Sadly, many first responders believe it is not if, but when, extremists will again terrorize our nation. The POLICE Act that I authored and was signed into law this past year will help ensure our first responders are prepared for this situation through existing Department of Justice grants. I am pleased that the U.S. Congress and the President have come together to help keep our communities safe by supporting this important expansion of opportunities through the DOJ grants.”

Carter recently introduced a bill to add active shooter training as a requirement to apply for Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) grants. The bill was passed by Congress over the summer and subsequently signed into law.