RUPD participates in ALERRT training
Radford University hosted in-depth police training July 19-20 that covered tactical medic training and active shooter protocol.
The training, developed by Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT), is considered the premier law enforcement training company and is funded by the federal government via grants. ALERRT is based out of Texas State University.
“[The training] is built around the team concept,” said Radford University Police Department Chief Dave Underwood. “Training together and receiving the same training allows officers to perform as a unit when encountering an active shooter. Officers that have received the same ALERRT training will know how the other officers will respond and react.”
The repeated training, along with the Radford University Police Department (RUPD) acing its re-accreditation by the Virginia Law Enforcement and Professional Standards Commission, places the police department among the elite. RUPD earned its first accreditation in 2001 and was the first university-based police department to be accredited in Virginia. RUPD remains one of only three university police departments to be accredited in the Commonwealth.
RUPD officers listen as they receive ALERRT level I and II training.
“All training that RUPD officers attend is the help make the campus of Radford University the safest place that we can make it,” said RUPD Lt. Sam Shumate. “If a situation does occur we will know that our officers here at RUPD will be able to handle it and keep as many people safe as possible.”
An added benefit to officers attending and participating in the same training is that “everyone will know what the other person is going to be doing and will have the utmost confidence in one another,” Shumate said.
Tactical medic training, a component of ALERRT Level II training, instructs the trainees on how to properly identify and treat injuries commonly found at the scene of an incident.
Shumate said the purpose of the training is “to give officers of RUPD more knowledge and capabilities of helping make Radford University and the surrounding community as safe as we can.”
Both ALERRT Level I and ALERRT Level II training sessions increase the operational effectiveness of the RUPD, as the agency is better equipped to treat injuries and protect lives.