(MONTGOMERY, Ala.) Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has tasked Alabama Department of Homeland Security Director Spencer Collier with developing a strategic plan for responding to incidents of active shooters at various facilities.
Bentley has also asked Collier for strategic plans in preventing such events from happening.
"We have been working for some time on a coordinated effort to prevent and respond to situations such as active shooters," Bentley said in a release. "This requires not only continued law enforcement training, but also input and preparation among the public. We hope to prevent tragedies from happening. In the event of a tragedy, we are prepared to respond."
The Alabama Department of Homeland Security has three top priorities in preparing the formal long-range plan:
* Continue and expand training for law enforcement in how to respond to and combat an active shooter event
* Engage the private sector in sharing information, and educate the general public on how to respond to an active shooter event
* Continue work with the Alabama Department of Education, utilizing the Virtual Alabama system, which makes school safety plans immediately accessible to first responders
A hotline is already available to receive anonymous tips on suspicious persons or activity. The hotline can be reached at 1-866-229-6220.
