Executive Summary
- The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center conducted active shooter drills coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Hesston shooting.
- Training officials emphasize that mass casualty events can occur in small towns and rural communities.
- The "active killer" module is the capstone of the 16-week basic training course, focusing on solo entry tactics.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — On the tenth anniversary of the mass shooting at the Excel Industries plant in Hesston, officials at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) highlighted the critical importance of tactical preparedness for recruits. The attack, which resulted in three deaths and 14 injuries, serves as a foundational case study for law enforcement, reinforcing the reality that mass casualty events are not limited to metropolitan areas.
Instructor Thomas Watts is currently guiding cadets through the facility’s rigorous “active killer training,” a module positioned at the conclusion of the 16-week basic training course. According to Watts, the curriculum follows a graduated “crawl, walk, run” progression, utilizing simulated violence, non-lethal munitions, and role-played hostage scenarios to condition officers for high-stress interventions. The training emphasizes tactical movement through corridors and stairwells, specifically preparing officers to breach and neutralize threats independently if necessary.
“No place is too small to have something like that happen,” Watts stated regarding the drills. “No town, no community. And the other thing is if we have to go in by ourselves, we have to go in by ourselves.”
Jeff Ostlund, the basic training administrator, described active shooter response as one of the most complex challenges new officers face. By scheduling this instruction at the end of the academy, instructors ensure cadets have mastered fundamental skills before applying them in dynamic simulations designed to mirror real-world threats.
Operational Readiness and Rural Policing Strategy
The curriculum at KLETC reflects a broader shift in national law enforcement doctrine, which now prioritizes immediate solo intervention over traditional perimeter containment during active shooter events. This strategy is particularly vital in rural jurisdictions common throughout Kansas, where backup units may be distant. By utilizing historical precedents such as the Excel Industries shooting, training academies aim to instill a psychological and tactical readiness that ensures officers can effectively mitigate threats regardless of community size or available resources.
