On June 22 2022, Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order aimed at increasing safety in schools. The order, Mission: Secure Oklahoma Schools, came in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and requires that troopers in the state’s Department of Public Safety must complete certified active shooter emergency response training by January 1, 2023.
To meet that need, Oklahoma is utilizing LSU NCBRT/ACE’s Law Enforcement Active Shooter Emergency Response (LASER) course. The LASER course addresses the aspects of planning and implementing a rapid law enforcement deployment to an active shooter incident through presentations, hands-on performance-based field training, and scenario-based practical exercises.
In 2018, Oklahoma adopted the LASER course as a standard training for its officers. Now, the course must be taken by all state troopers by January and offered to all other law enforcement officers by July 2023.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol began valuable LASER training as a first step toward complying with the executive order. Local media highlighted this training, which was held on Monday, July 11 through Wednesday, July 13, in Oklahoma City.
Media Highlights:
Okla. Highway Patrol begins work on Stitt’s executive order to secure Oklahoma schools (KTUL)
Oklahoma Highway Patrol undergoing training to help beef up school security (FOX 25)
Troopers undergo training to fight school shooters (Muskogee Now)
OHP takes active shooter training course to standardize police response (KOCO 5)
OHP troopers undergo active shooter training as part of Mission: Secure Oklahoma Schools (KOCO 5)
Oklahoma Highway Patrol trains for active shooter situations (KJRH-TV)
About LSU NCBRT/ACE:
LSU NCBRT/ACE is a nationally recognized center for emergency preparedness and response training located at Louisiana State University’s flagship campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We provide mobile training to both the national and international emergency response community. LSU NCBRT/ACE has expertise in research, development and delivery of training in the areas of specialized law enforcement operations; biological incident response; food and agriculture safety and security; school safety; and instructional design and technique. More information can be found at ncbrt.lsu.edu.
