Liberty Police Department officers took part in an active shooter training session this week at San Jacinto Elementary School, part of a state-mandated program aimed at preparing peace officers for rapid response to critical incidents.
The training, known as ALERRT—Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training—is offered by Texas State University and must be completed by all peace officers in Texas every two years.
To ensure every officer receives the training, Liberty PD has scheduled multiple sessions. The first was held this week, with another set for two weeks from now. The second training session is likely to be held at Liberty Middle School.
“It’s like everything else. The more you do it, the better you get,” said Liberty Police Chief Rick Ashe of the training. “These aren’t new tactics to us. It’s really more about understanding the protocols that all agencies go by.”
During the training, officers used simunition weapons and worked through realistic scenarios, sweeping rooms and responding as if it were a live incident. The goal, Ashe said, is to be fully prepared in case such a tragic event ever occurs in Liberty.
The urgency behind such training is underscored by national data. The number of active shooter incidents in the United States remains disturbingly high, with Texas reporting more incidents than any other state in recent years, according to FBI statistics. The FBI reports that 24 shootings in 2024 were designated as “active shooter incidents.”
The report states that Texas had four incidents in 2024, followed by California and North Carolina with each having two incidents. The highest number of incidents in 2024 (five) happened in June; September had the second-highest number with four incidents.
Ashe emphasized that standardizing tactics across agencies is crucial. He hopes to organize another training session in the next fiscal year that will include Liberty PD, Liberty Fire Department and EMS, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.
Ashe thanked Liberty ISD for the use of its facilities to allow the officers to train.
“The school district has been very gracious to us,” he said.
