GARLAND,TX. (November 5, 2014) As an educator, counselor and member of the local police force, a Garland ISD School Resource Officer (SRO) plays a vital role in a school’s environment. But educating students about the legal system and personal safety is not an SRO’s only job, they also bring awareness to drug and violence prevention and help maintain campuses safe and secure.
GISD SROs decided to undertake a special training to broaden their safety and security skills for 2014-15. All SROs and several Garland police officers completed Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) this summer at Webb Middle School and Naaman Forest High School.
“The training involves preparing officers for active shooter incidents in schools, business and other locations,” explained Garland Police Department Lt. Dan Colasanto. “The officers learned different tactics and techniques which will help them respond effectively in the event of an active shooter.”
SROs were able to receive this experience due toGarland’s close proximity to the nation’s top training center.
“The ALERRT facility is located at Texas State University and is the industry standard for active shooter training in the country,” Colasanto said. “We sent four officers to the ‘train-the-trainer’ course so they could come back and provide training to our officers.”
The two-day event featured SROs and GISD teachers reenacting true active shooter situations. The intensive and multifaceted training allowed officers to analyze each simulation as well as identify and learn from mistakes.
“Part of the training includes techniques to breach the doors of the school to get in if they are locked or barricaded,” Colasanto said. “Vigilance is the key–controlling access and being alert for those who do not belong. The more difficult you make it for the bad guys, the less likely they are to target the school.”
GISD’s 2014 bond proposal currently includes projects to increase campus security, such as front entrance remodels, access control system improvements, additional security cameras and the addition of secure classroom door locks.
“This training enabled all of our officers to learn how to respond [to an active shooter incident] efficiently and effectively,” Colasanto said. “It was extremely beneficial and needs to be done on a regular basis. I would like to thank the principals at Webb and Dr. Crump at Naaman for allowing us to train in their schools. It made the training much more realistic.”
Submitted by Caren Rodriguez, Garland Independent School District Staff Writer.
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