LOS LUNAS — An active-shooter scenario is something nobody wants to think about, but it’s important to be prepared and proactive nonetheless.
Knowing this, several local law enforcement and first responder agencies participated in a collaborative active shooter training hosted by Los Lunas Schools on Jan. 30.
The training, led by ALERRT, was dedicated to improving integration between law enforcement, fire, tele-communicator and emergency medical services in the event of an attack.
Felina Martinez | News-Bulletin photos
Local law enforcement and first responder personnel demonstrate how they would move as a team to transport an injured person out of an area in an active shooter scenario.
“In reality, there are multiple agencies represented when responding to an active shooter event. They never met prior to hitting the front door of that building, so how do they work together in an integrated response? That’s what this course addresses,” said ALERRT senior instructor Cj James, who led the training.
“It’s about working together,” said James. “So everyone is on the same page and knows what to do and we’re somewhat speaking the same language.”
The agencies that participated include Los Lunas Schools resource officers, Los Lunas Fire Department, Belen Fire Department, New Mexico State Police, Valencia Regional Emergency Communications Center, Los Lunas Police Department and an Isleta school resource officer.
LLS director of safety and security Desi Garcia said ALERRT, based in Texas, is the lead agency in the country for these kinds of trainings. Last year, LLS hosted them for the first time to train local law enforcement on room entry techniques, approaching and breaching crisis sites and more.
“It’s a high-end training program, so we got very positive feedback from those who attended,” said Garcia. “It’s not easy to get approval through their grant system to get them to come out and train an agency, and we’ve been fortunate enough to do it twice.”
Garcia said focusing on integrated response in an active shooter scenario is important because collaboration between agencies makes for a much more efficient response to an emergency.
“The interaction between agencies also creates a better sense of awareness and better sense of communication and camaraderie,” said Garcia. “We have a partnership with law enforcement and local fire, but not with surrounding area fire so I thought that was very important that we communicate and work with one another.”
The two-day course, held at the Los Lunas Fire Department, also provided attendees with key medical skills training with an emphasis on stopping blood loss.
Two attendees of the training demonstrate how they would apply a tourniquet to someone in need.
Since the last ALERRT training in May, Garcia said LLS school resource officers have started to carry tourniquets with them and they have been training staff at schools throughout the district in tourniquet application.
“Most of our school sites have been trained by our officers,” said Garcia. “We realized it is so important that staff and law enforcement have the capability of applying a tourniquet in order to prevent the loss of life. At some of our school sites, the entire staff is trained and certified.”
Down the road, Garcia said he hopes to have another training from ALERRT called train the trainer where ALERRT trains local officers to teach the courses instead so that they don’t have to rely as much on the grant.
As always, parents, students and staff are encouraged to report threats or concerns of violence immediately to an SRO officer or school administrator. Concerns can also be reported anonymously through the STOPit app which can be downloaded from the app store.
Felina Martinez was born and raised in Valencia County. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2021. During her time at UNM, she studied interdisciplinary film, digital media and journalism. She covers the village of Los Lunas, Los Lunas Schools, the School of Dreams Academy and the town of Peralta.
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April 25, 2024
