APD conducting active shooter training Tuesday night

AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Police Department will be conducting active shooter training today, September 24th, from 5 p.m. to midnight. 

APD started setting up at 5 p.m. on the 600 block of Neches. That area is blocked off with crime scene tape and barricades until midnight.

APD says they've studied previous active shooter events, and are trying to reproduce what they've learned so officers have a really good grasp at what a real active shooter event will be, and will also be prepared.

Austin Police say they currently have a counter assault strike team, which allows them to have an immediate response to countering threats. This is so they don't rely on a callback status like SWAT.

The area is blocked off until midnight because they cycle officers during training.

Jason Bryant is a commander for APD’s downtown Austin command.

“In the past we've trained in industrial sites, malls, military bases, schools, and theatres,” Bryant said. “Active shooter situations happen in a variety of environments so therefore we train in a variety of environments."

APD says their goal is to train all officers that work in the downtown district. This training is not in response to any specific threat.

The event will be coordinated with Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS. This training will focus on the entertainment district.