‘We Must Do Everything In Our Power’: Texas Governor Greg Abbott Expands Statewide School Safety Program Following Uvalde Shooting

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter on Monday to expand statewide school safety training following the recent Uvalde shooting at Robb Elementary School.

The letter instructed Executive Director Dr. Pete Blair to begin providing Texas State University’s nationally-recognized Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) programs to all school districts across the state.

“We sadly recognize we cannot do anything to bring back the precious lives that were taken; however, we must do everything in our power to prevent the same tragic ending from happening again,” Abbott wrote.

“An important part of these prevention efforts must focus on the proper training of law enforcement and school administrators on how to respond when they face the threat of an active shooter on their campus. This vital training, which is delivered by veteran first responders with proven experience in active attack response and police training, will help law enforcement on school campuses better respond to these situations,” the letter added.

ALERRT is designed to equip first responders with effective strategies to respond to active attack events, according to a statement from the governor’s office. The ALERRT training is provided by veteran first responders and has served more than 200,000 first responders across the nation.

The program includes 16 hours of training in team movement, room entry techniques, approach and breaching the crisis, shooting and moving, as well as post engagement priorities of work, according to the organization. The vital training has been shown to shorten response times and strengthen law enforcement abilities.

The announcement follows a growing list of available resources Abbott and the state of Texas have launched since the May 30 school shooting that killed 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers.

On Wednesday, Abbott sent a letter to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan to request that the state’s legislative leaders convene special legislative committees following last week’s tragic shooting in Uvalde.

The special legislative committees will develop recommendations on school safety, mental health, social media, police training, firearm safety, and other areas.

“As Texans mourn the tragedy that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last week, we as a State must reassess the twin issues of school safety and mass violence,” the letter stated.

“As leaders, we must come together at this time to provide solutions to protect all Texans. Accordingly, I hereby request that each of you convene a special legislative committee. I look forward to working with you both on this important mission to make Texas safer, and I stand ready to provide any and all support,” Abbott added.

On Tuesday, the governor also announced a state of disaster for the city of Uvalde on Tuesday that will expedite state and local resources to assist the community following a tragic mass shooting last week.

Among other safety measures, Abbott has also instructed the Texas School Safety Center to begin immediately conducting comprehensive school safety reviews to ensure all Texas public schools are following the appropriate procedures to maximize school safety. Many of the safety measures come in response to reports of significant delays in the law enforcement response time during the Uvalded shooting.