Louisiana State University’s Academy of Counter Terrorism Education
Recertifies Shopping Center Security Terrorism Awareness Program

International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) & LSU Partnership

LSU NCBRT/ACE, in close partnership with the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), has offered the Shopping Center Security Terrorism Awareness Training Program for 10 years.

The five-hour course funded through LSU NCBRT/ACE’s DHS’s Homeland Security National Training Program is designed to provide shopping center security professionals knowledge to help prevent and mitigate potential terrorist attacks at shopping centers.

According to NCBRT Associate Director Jason Krause, shopping center security remains a top concern for many in the emergency response community.

“We have really enjoyed the partnership with ICSC and I believe together we have increased the robustness of the shopping center security community’s capability in regards to terrorism and other active threats,” Krause said. “This year marks the third update and DHS recertification for the course. The Shopping Center Program has had record participation in 2019 with just under 3,000 students this year. We are excited to celebrate our 20,000th completion sometime in the next few months.”

In addition to the web-based course developed for shopping center security personnel, NCBRT has piloted a large-scale virtual reality training system that includes a mixed use retail environment. The virtual reality training is designed to immerse Law Enforcement officers into the environment in order to practice decision making and tactics during an active shooter incident.

This ground breaking technology allows emergency personnel and law enforcement to view and experience what it is like to respond to an attack or active shooter scenario, and provide aid to victims, in a complex shopping mall setting.

“An attack can take place anywhere today,” Krause added. “Where there are large gatherings of people, there is always that possibility. This is another tool in our ongoing efforts to reduce threats to human safety, security, and critical infrastructure globally.”

For more information on LSU NCBRT/ACE courses and other classes available please visit https://www.ncbrt.lsu.edu/courses/dhs/AWR-304-W.php