July 2020
You Are Not Alone
Pete Blair
Executive Director
At this time of civil unrest where there are calls to defund and abolish the police, we at ALERRT want you to know that you are not alone.  
While we feel that there is always room for improvement in policing, we believe that it is unfair and wrong to simply paint all police officers as racists or tools of a racist system.  Change/reform is coming and ALERRT will continue to strive to be a voice of reason in shaping that change.  

We believe that in order to be a strong voice in that change, we must start by putting our own house in order.  Over the next few months, you will see us revisiting the shepherd concept that we introduced a few years ago.  A core part of the shepherd ethos is respect and empathy for citizens.  We will be striving to reflect that respect even more in all that we do.  We will also begin talking about procedural justice as a way to start mending the rift that exists between officers and some minority communities.

In the meantime, know that you are not alone and so many in our country still support you.
ALERRT Classes Resume
John Curnutt
Assistant Director
On July 6th the ALERRT Program resumed in-person training in the State of Texas, using state funding, after submitting and receiving approval of new COVID safety protocols. Class sizes have been reduced and other extra precautions are necessary to safeguard instructors and students as much as possible, while still conducting meaningful, life-saving training. We are still waiting for authorization to resume our in-person training around the country using our federal grant. We sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience during all of this.

Over the past months, our staff have worked hard to reinvent almost everything about how we conduct our daily operations. Telework. Class postponements/cancellations. Cancelled trips/meetings/conference appearances.  Zoom meetings.  Creating webinars in our new, online training library. Contingencies for our annual conference. All of these things are moving targets during incredibly uncertain and challenging times. Always be flexible, fluid and adaptive, right?

With these new challenges, we have taken steps in expediting the creation of an E-Learning division within our program. This will serve to augment our ability to deliver training, update/recertify instructors and expand information exchange through a virtual library.  More to come on that!

The initial shock of what our nation has undergone lately has challenged us like most may have never even imagined we could be. How we fare through this depends largely on how we see ourselves in all of this. So, does a person make the times or do the times make the person? 

Paraphrasing the Greek philosopher, Epictetus, from two-thousand years ago, circumstances don’t make the person, they only reveal them to themselves. This essentially means that what we need to endure this should already be within us  How much will we be shaped by what is happening around us versus how much will we shape it? What do you believe?

Stay safe, healthy and ready. So many still support us. May we continue to earn that support.
2020 ALERRT Integrated Response Conference
October 31 - November 3  |  Grapevine, TX
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
ALERRTconference.org

Speakers have been selected!
We've officially begun to announce the speaker line up for the 2020 ALERRT Conference. See who will be presenting this year at alerrtconference.org/speakers.
RATES
Regular Registration  |  May 16 - November 3  |  $275
Training Certification Courses  |  $100 (+ registration fee)
eLearning Survey

ALERRT is in the process of developing an eLearning platform to offer online training opportunities. The purpose of this short survey is to ask past course participants and instructors what types of online training material and topics would be useful. It shouldn't take more than 2-3 minutes of your time. Thanks for your help!
Take Survey
Pete Blair
Executive Director
How long have you been with ALERRT?  Since 2008 or 2009 when I started my first research project with us. 
What does your day-to-day look like at ALERRT?  I have two primary duties. The first is external relations.  That involves keeping in contact with the numerous groups that ALERRT interacts with - such as professional groups and our funders.  This work involves attending meetings, making presentations, and looking for funding opportunities.  The second duty is administrative.  In this role, I spend a lot of time making sure that our i’s are dotted and t’s crossed with our funders and the university.
What’s your favorite thing about working at ALERRT?  Being part of a group that is making a difference and saving lives.
What was your first job or an unusual/interesting job you’ve had outside of ALERRT?  I worked as a staff interviewer for John E. Reid and Associates.
Any pets?  I have a dog.  
Favorite TV Show?  Game of Thrones until the last season and a half.
Favorite place you’ve traveled?  Iceland.  It has the most natural beauty in one place that I have seen.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? Indecisiveness – Wait, maybe . . .
John Curnutt
Assistant Director
How long have you been with ALERRT? Since the beginning of the program.
What does your day-to-day look like at ALERRT? Lots of thinking, typing, talking and excel spreadsheets…all seemingly incongruent with being a career SWAT cop!
What’s your favorite thing about working at ALERRT? The mission and the people.  No greater love.
What was your first job or an unusual job you’ve had outside of ALERRT? First job was working at a snack store in a mall.  Most unusual was making snowshoes in Colorado.
What is one thing you have yet to cross off your bucket list?  “Beyond Band of Brothers” tour in Europe.
Favorite place you’ve traveled?  That’s a tough one.  So many great places.  Tie between the top of a Fourteener and Australia.
What book would you currently recommend reading?  Dave Ramsey’s “Complete Guide to Money”
One random fact about yourself most people don’t know: I lived in my 1966 Land Rover Pickup when I first moved to San Marcos to attend college.

A recent update was completed for ALERRT.org that included many new features that we hope are beneficial for all users, instructors, and staff. Please send any questions to help@alerrt.org. 

New Site Features
  • Certificates Search: Search for certificates by email
  • Course Status Search: Check the paperwork status for a course
  • Informal Trainings: Report training related to an ALERRT course that does not require a certificate
  • Online Registration: Ability to do registration, tests, and evaluations online
In the User Menu
Student Website
  • Certificates: My Certificates, Certificates Search
  • Courses: History, Courses Status Search
  • Informal Trainings: Report new and list existing informal trainings
Data Website
  • ALERRT Library – Location to download podcasts and other information

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Pete Blair, Ph.D.
Executive Director

John Curnutt
Assistant Director

Hunter Martaindale, Ph.D.
Director of Research
 
Kelly Nichols
Director of Finance
Dwayne Sander
Director of Information Technology

Zane Childress
Director of Logistics
Request A Class
Upcoming Classes
Course Catalog

Download ADD Flyer here:

In the aftermath of recent active attacks, a record number of Civilian Response classes have been held across the nation. We have received many calls for a flyer that can be printed and distributed to participants. 
 Click here to download flyer.
Newsletter Archives
An archive of the ALERRT Newsletter, The Responder, is available on our website at https://alerrt.org/page/newsletters 
Major Funding Partners


Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

Department of Justice

The State of Texas

FBI, Department of Justice

National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center

Department of Homeland Security


Local Working Partners

City of San Marcos

Hays County Sheriff’s Office

Texas School Safety Center

Texas Tactical Police 

Officers Association

Gary Job Corps Center, 
San Marcos - Department
of Labor


Professional Partners

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ALERRT Texas State University
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