Alabama State University held an emergency training Thursday for educators and school resource officers to learn about active-shooter situations.
A $2 million grant allowed ASU to fund the program, said Avionne Ruffin, a program director at school. The training allowed officers and teachers “to learn more about how to keep your kids safe,” said Tony Garrett, the executive director of Central Alabama CrimeStoppers.
“It’s very important because any time you have parents who drop their kids off, this is a safe haven,” said Kelvin Kendrick, ASU’s director of public safety.
Ruffin said the goal is to help Montgomery Public Schools be proactive. “Every time we turn on the news nowadays we hear about a school shooting,” Ruffin said.
The training offered school resource officer certification and critical incident response training, Garrett said. It allows officials to work with SWAT officers and learn about what to do during active-shooter situations.
“It’s not a matter of if it happens. It’s when it happens,” Garrett said.