Oklahoma Law Enforcement Trains For School Shooting Scenarios

It's a scenario law enforcement agencies train for, but hope to never encounter – a school shooting.

Law enforcement from across the state meet in Porter for a two-day training seminar.

Law enforcement swept the hallways of Porter Middle school, clearing classroom after classroom.

They weren't doing it because a shooter was on campus, but to be prepared if it were ever to become a reality.

It's part of a nationwide program called ALERRT.

"We can't actually get these guys in gunfights, but what we can do is try to increase the amount of stress they have on their bodies as much as possible," ALERRT instructor Ed Boese said.

Oklahoma law enforcement started training 18 months ago and has since held 40 classes similar to this one.

"This encompasses team movements, team concepts and philosophies, weapons manipulation, setting up for room entries," Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. Ben Crockett said.

Part of the reason for the simulation is that, in the event of an active shooter situation, the first responder may team up with three other individuals from different law enforcement agencies, and it helps them to be on the same page.

"It's simple in nature, it can be set up to two-man teams, three-man teams, four-man teams and more," Crockett said.

Crockett said the program was created in light of school shootings like Columbine.

He said, in that case, the first responder followed protocol –and waited for SWAT to arrive.

"It was 45 minutes before a police gun ever entered that school," Crockett said.

He said the ALERRT program will help change the role of first responders and give them the tools and mindset to handle an active shooter situation when people's lives are on the line.

"Our goal is to make them learn how to deal with the shakes, learn how to deal with the rapid heart beat, learn how to deal with all the chaos that is going on, and still perform in a safe manner," Boese said.