The OTOA Active Threat Response 16-hour courses provide officers assigned to road patrol and SWAT / SRT teams with the advanced tactics and core principles to respond to an active threat event and save lives.

Click here for a printable flyer.

This course was made possible through the leadership and support of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. 

The insanity of the active killer/active shooter threatens everybody. This isn’t 20/20 hindsight. This is recognizing that what we witnessed by the initial responding officers at Uvalde was unacceptable. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. 

OPOTC-certified peace officers and troopers who are assigned full- or part-time to an Ohio law enforcement tactical team.

The tuition for this course is 100% reimbursed through the School Safety Grant.
The agency can use the reimbursement to pay the invoice for the training.
Agencies are required to pay for the training, payable to the Ohio Tactical Officers Association.
Payment for this training course can be made upon completion of the training OR within 60 days of completion of this course.

Upon completing the Tactical Team Response to Active Threat 16-hour course, the agency will submit a completed grant reimbursement form through the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Grant reimbursement forms are completed for EACH officer and signed by the Sheriff or Chief.

NO. This grant will NOT finance expenses incurred by the agency for the backfilling of manpower to cover shifts.

NO. This grant will NOT finance expenses incurred by the agency for any overtime.

NO. This grant will NOT finance expenses incurred by the agency for travel, travel time, lodging or meals.

• Required? NO
• Endorsed and recommended by the Ohio Attorney General's Office? YES

The Ohio Attorney General would like to have every officer assigned to a full- or part-time tactical team trained in the advanced tactics and core principles to respond to an active threat event and save lives.

This foundational approach would establish a solid baseline for response to an active killer.   

YES. Contact training@otoa.org for more information.

Host an OTOA Training Class

NO. This course was developed by and instructed by the Ohio Tactical Officers Association (OTOA).

YES. It is highly recommended that teams train together and/or teams near each other train together.

Schedule the training days within your yearly training calendar.

All equipment issued to and used by the officers in accordance with a tactical team response to an active shooter.

This course has a short classroom presentation to set a foundation for active shooter response (lecture), and most of the training is “hands-on”.

• OPOTC-certified peace officers and troopers who are assigned full- or part-time to an Ohio law enforcement tactical team.
• Successful completion of a basic SWAT school.

Email: training@otoa.org

NO. There is no live fire during this course.
NO live ammunition will be permitted in the training venues.

YES. Specialty vehicles (armor) and specialty equipment (shields, drones, electronics, etc.) are highly recommended.

YES, the agency will receive a training invoice from the OTOA.

The invoice can be paid using the reimbursement from the AG's office.

Invoices are set for this class at NET 60. The OTOA emails invoices on day one of the course.

OTOA Staff will assist the student on day one of the class in filling out the grant reimbursement form.

Once the grant form is FULLY completed by the agency, countersigned by the Chief or Sheriff, and submitted to the AG's office, reimbursement is usually received within 30-45 days.

Step One: Complete the AG Grant Request Form

• One (1) grant request form must be completed for EACH officer.
• A copy of the OTOA training certificate MUST be attached.
• A signature from an Officer/Deputy/Trooper is REQUIRED.
• A signature from the Chief/Sheriff is REQUIRED.

Step Two: Email the COMPLETED grant form to:
officerschoolsafetygrants@ohioattorneygeneral.gov

Yes, If you want to attend OTOA training, current membership is required.

SIGN UP TODAY 

• Select "Standard User"
• Create user account
• Access your dashboard
• Check "Membership Status (left side of the dashboard)
• Subscribe to a membership type/plan
• Chose payment method

Intended for Those Registering Officers from an Agency:

This system automatically populates OTOA members based on the agencies they select in their profiles. It's important to note that administrators, such as secretaries, office staff, or agency personnel responsible for enrolling individuals in classes (who may not require membership themselves), may not need a membership.

You can register any member who has listed their agency, unit, or team in their profile. Team commanders, unit supervisors, or individuals with agency or unit administrator privileges can easily sign up multiple people for training without requiring the member's username and password.

If you're interested in becoming the Organization Administrator, please send a request to: office@otoa.org. It's important to know that all Organization Administrator requests are reviewed and approved by the OTOA before granting the authority.

Policing and police training comes with inherent risks. Mitigation of those risks comes with proper planning and preparedness.

• Every effort will be taken to ensure that social distance guidelines are followed.
• Wearing a facial covering of the mouth and nose will be required.
• Health and safety screening will be conducted before any OTOA training commences.
• All OTOA training is voluntary and all participants are mandated to provide a signed OTOA release of liability waiver and assumption of risk.

CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering as a measure to contain the wearer's respiratory droplets and help protect others.

Participants and OTOA staff should not wear a cloth face covering if they have trouble breathing, cannot tolerate wearing it, or can't remove it without help.

Cloth face coverings are not considered personal protective equipment and may not protect the wearers from exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. However, cloth face coverings may prevent participants and OTOA staff, including those who don't know they have the virus, from spreading it to others.

Common sense prevails - ALWAYS

Before you decided to attend any OTOA training event, please confirm that you have NOT in the 14 days before the training event had close contact with anyone confirmed or suspected of being infected with COVID-19.

&

You do NOT currently have and have not in the 14 days before the training event experienced any of the symptoms below that are not otherwise explained by a known condition other than COVID-19

Stay home if any of the following apply to you:

• Elevated temperature or fever of 100.4F or higher
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea OTOA recognizes that the training and preparedness of all first responders are vital to the core mission of our membership - SAVING LIVES.

Safety is our priority for all participants and OTOA staff.

OTOA training will ensure that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Health Covid-19 mandates are followed.

Watch this short video -CLICK HERE

• Login
• Go to your dashboard
• From the dashboard, left-hand side menu section, select "Advanced Training" 
• Select the training course you attended (full course completion required)
• Complete the course survey/evaluation
•  Download the certificate

We can eliminate both costs by sending instructor(s) to you rather than sending students to us. This allows your agency to put more people through the training potentially.

Host Agency Commitments

"Hosting" OTOA training requires some leg work from the host agency.

• LEADS teletypes - The host law enforcement agency will send a minimum of one (1) LEADS teletype to the region where the training is conducted (LEADS rules & restrictions apply)
• Assist the OTOA training division with direct coordination of training venues for EACH training day: classroom, appropriate training venues suitable for training, live-fire ranges, etc.
• Live Fire range classes - Host agencies are responsible for providing an appropriate live fire range, target backers, sticks, target stands, staplers, staples, and paper targets.

"Comp" or "Free" seat criteria:

• "Hosting," an OTOA training course, does not guarantee that your agency will be provided free training.
• Comp or no charge seats in any OTOA training are determined case-by-case.
• The OTOA does NOT guarantee free or no-charge seats for ANY training event.
• All comp or free spots are pre-approved by the director of training.

Venue

Possibly, the most critical part of the planning process for any training course is securing a location conducive to the event's requirements.

Depending on the class, the host agency may be responsible for procuring the following:

• Classroom
• Live-fire Range
• House(s)
• Building(s)
• Structure(s)
• School(s)

Logistical Support

Hosting a training course starts when the agreement is initiated with OTOA HQ.

Pre-Event - Once confirmed, coordinate the training event with the OTOA Training Director to locate and secure classrooms, ranges, and other venues as needed. The host agency is also responsible for marketing and LEADs announcements (LEADs announcements must be sent to the OTOA Training Operations Chief).

Event - Assist with logistics and attendee needs, possible after-class time/hours issues - venue changes, weather issues, etc.

Benefits of Hosting an OTOA Training Course

The primary benefit of hosting is convenience. Training in a venue close to home saves money and time.

If you are considering hosting an OTOA training event to obtain training at a reduced rate or no charge, don't hesitate to contact us directly at training@otoa.org.

The OTOA is committed to providing training within budget constraints and reason.

Hosting the Tactical Team Respons to Active Threats Course

School buildings are the most suitable venues for this training. Large office buildings or commercial buildings are also acceptable.

• Buildings need to be VOID of occupants when training is taking place unless OTOA approves.
• Buildings must be conducive for the use of training munitions. (Airsoft, Simunition, UTM, etc.)

The OTOA training cadre is committed to facilitating a safe environment and leaving all training buildings without damage. 

Host agencies must coordinate the communication with the property owners and adjacent neighborhoods.

Host agencies are required to post appropriate “Police Training in Progress” signage.

Classroom with the following:

• Tables and chairs for twenty-four (24) adults.
• Audio/visual capabilities: LCD/PowerPoint projector with screen, speakers capable of sound projection into the classroom, or large screen TV with HDMI port.
• Appropriate temperature regulation for classroom settings.
• Bathrooms, both male and female.

Training venues can be one or multiple locations with the following:

• School, office building, church, or training building.
• Power, lighting, and running water are always preferred.
• Large, open room accommodating twenty-four adults for movement drills and weapons flow. (example – gymnasium).
• Multiple rooms.
• Stairwells.
• Hallways with multiple doorways.
• Areas outside to coordinate arrival and staging of responders.
• Both male and female bathrooms are in the building or within walking distance.