ERTCA

01/07/2023

As another year draws to a close, I remain grateful for the opportunity to be your voice at our state Capitol.

Today, I was honored to present Scott Henry with a signed copy of legislation that will help improve safety on our state system university campuses -- legislation that came about because Scott, who recently retired from Mansfield University, shared his solution to a challenge those campuses were facing!

Act 121 of 2022 will make it easier for state system universities like Mansfield to hire qualified campus security officers, thus improving the safety of both students and faculty. Thank you, Scott, for your ongoing commitment to public service and public safety in our community.

Thank you also to Commissioner Erick Coolidge for joining us today!

01/03/2023

Innovation Park nonprofit seeks solutions to issues facing first responders...
Read more here: https://www.centredaily.com/news/business/article269763372.html

12/13/2022

State System Chancellor Dan Greenstein visited Mansfield University campus to speak with and to learn from students, faculty, staff, university partners, and community leaders. This included learning about the training that ERTCA provides.

12/08/2022

It was and honor to have Congressman Thompson visit ERTCA and MUPSTI, tour the facility, and receive an overview on the partnership and all that we are doing.

(Pictured left to right: Erick Coolidge (Tioga County Commissioner), Glenn Thompson (Congressman), Scott Henry (ERTCA President)

11/08/2022

ERTCA Instructors hold MVRE Training for Buffalo Valley PD and Union County Sheriffs

On August 22nd, ERTCA instructors Jeremy Brown and Pat Whalen instructed several law enforcement officials through the Virtual reality Experience. The TV station FOX 56 News also attended to learn more about ERTCA’s Initiative and to see the Technology in action. ERTCA’s President Scott Henry, along with Mansfield University Dean, Joshua Battin, were interviewed by Fox 56 News during the event. See the full story here:

Lewisburg (Union County) - Making sure all first respnders are prepared to deal with any situation that may come their way.

11/08/2022

ERTCA and its partners Hold “Shake and Bake” for FLETC Participants and Instructors

On July 12th, ERTCA will be holding an open house for FLETC participants as well as the instructors. The attendees will have a chance to demo the VR as well as try the various other assets that accompany it.

FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers) will be in Wellsboro the week of the 11th holding an Active Shooter Training. The participants of the training will receive free lodging at Mansfield University. The free lodging was made possible by the $209,000 grant that was awarded to MUPSTI in March by ERTCA.

11/08/2022

June 14th 2022 - ERTCA will provide a demonstration of their MVRE and Company Assets at Bradford County Public Safety Center.

ERTCA will attend Bradford County Public Safety Center for an Expo that will showcase multiple agencies, resources and services. ERTCA will provide live demos on the WRAP Virtual Reality. Attendees at this event will be able to experience the Virtual Reality Simulator, as well as test out the multiple assets that will be provided such as the BOLO WRAP, GLOVE, and many others.

Also in attendance will be Clearview Asset Protection with their SMART Tower which provides WIFI and communication capabilities. Tech Line Trauma will also be present along with multiple other agencies.

11/08/2022

ERTCA Instructors Provide Virtual Reality Training to Lycoming County Sheriff's Deputies and Probation Officer

On Saturday May 14th 2022, ERTCA instructor Scott Davis, provided WRAP Virtual Reality Training to 5 Sheriffs Deputies and 5 probation officers including one from Clinton County. Present at the training was also Lance Thomas from Clearview Asset Protection. Lance brought with him, his state of the art mobile Smart Tower unit that provides power, communication and Wi-Fi capabilities that help power the VR equipment.

Each officer ran through 4 to 5 scenarios each, as well as received critiques and evaluations from the instructor after each scenario.

11/08/2022

MU Public Safety Training Institute receives $209,000 grant to enhance training opportunities

MANSFIELD, Pa. – The Mansfield University Public Safety Training Institute (MUPSTI) received a $209,000 grant from the Emergency Response Training & Certification Association (ERTCA) to enhance training opportunities for future and current public safety practitioners.

The grant was presented during a press conference at Mansfield University’s Alumni Hall on Tuesday.

“Today is another giant leap forward for the incredible work being done by the Mansfield University Public Safety Training Institute and the Emergency Response Training & Certification Association,” explained Dr. Bashar Hanna, interim president of Mansfield University. “We know the power of partnership allows us to multiply our impact on the students and the communities we serve. By combining the innovation of ERTCA and its corporate partners along with the strong instructional background of the University’s Public Safety Training Institute, Mansfield can serve as a regional and national hub to advance important public safety training and research.”

U.S. Congressman Fred Keller (PA-12) added “This is an investment in our communities from all the organizations here today. Making sure (law enforcement practitioners) are prepared and have the educational knowledge they need is going to start right here in Mansfield. And we’re going to continue to build on that and be the pioneers in public safety.”

MU’s Public Safety Training Institute (MUPSTI) is a regional training center providing initial and continuing professional education for criminal justice practitioners, first responders, public safety professionals, and the public. The Institute includes Mansfield University’s Act 120 Municiple Police Academy, which begins its next class in May 2022.

The ERTCA grant will expand MUPSTI’s offering of training courses and allows Mansfield University to provide free on-campus housing at its modern, suite-style residence halls for Police Academy cadets and other trainees through MUPSTI. The grant also supports additional scholarship funds for MUPSTI students, including a minimum $2,500 guaranteed scholarship for all Police Academy cadets that will reduce the cost of attendance by 45%. The most cadets will pay for the nine-month municipal police training, including housing, will be $3,000. Graduates from the academy will also have the opportunity to stay for another five weeks to attend an EMT certification course, which will be provided at no additional cost

“This is by far the most affordable option in the Commonwealth for an individual interested in law enforcement to receive their Act 120 Academy certification,” explained Dr. Josh Battin, Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “Not only is tuition thousands lower than any other academy, Mansfield University also provides free housing for cadets. We hope this opportunity will attract more highly qualified and motivated individuals to the law enforcement profession.”

Additionally, the press conference included the presentation of a $1 million Pennsylvania Department of Education grant to the Emergency Response Training & Certification Association. ERTCA is a 501C(6) non-profit organization made up of members who are stakeholders and educators in the emergency response and communications fields.

ERTCA will use the Department of Education funding to develop a center for public safety research and training at the former State Police barracks in Mansfield, renamed the Erick J. Coolidge Center for Public Safety Training, Education, & Innovation. The 7,000 square foot facility, donated by the Roy W. Piper Charitable Trust, provides a space for emerging technologies and techniques in public safety to be researched and tested. The Coolidge Center is named in honor of current Tioga County Commissioner Erick Coolidge.

MUPSTI will partner closely with ERTCA to provide the training side of the innovation occurring at the Coolidge Center by credentialing practitioners in proven technologies. The partnership also provides opportunities for Mansfield University students to engage with existing and emerging technologies used by ERTCA.

The grant along with sponsorship from AT&T and WRAP Reality allows ERTCA, in partnership with MUPSTI, to create the Mobile Virtual Reality Experience (MVRE) that will travel throughout the Commonwealth to provide free virtual reality training for public safety practitioners. The MVRE allows organizations and practitioners to access important VR training modules that are not currently available to them. The traveling VR unit will also expose high school students to careers in public safety.

Learn more about the Mansfield University Public Safety Training Institute at mansfield.edu/mupsti. To support MUPSTI, visit give.mansfield.edu.

11/08/2022

April 21, 2021 - Police Learn to Enhance Response

WELLSBORO — In a shadowed auditorium, about 90 people learned of new technologies that will help police respond to emergency situations. The Emergency Response Training & Certification Association held “Strategies for Responding to an Active Shooter” demonstration and seminar April 20 at the Wellsboro Area School District administration building

11/08/2022

September 21, 2022

Association plans to expand Mansfield University's emergency training program.

MANSFIELD — If all goes according to plan, Mansfield University could become “the” place to go for police training.

The Chamber of Commerce here hosted Eric Porterfield, CEO of the Emergency Response Training & Certification Association at the March 8 meeting.

The ERTCA will work closely with Mansfield University, the MU Public Safety Training Institute and private industry with a goal of making Tioga County a hub for cutting-edge law enforcement training.

“We would like this region to become an innovation space for public safety,” said Porterfield.

ERTCA is funded primarily by private industry that has technology or services invested in public safety training education. ERTCA works with Microsoft, Amazon and other corporate giants.

“This is just the beginning of growth,” said Porterfield. “We are going to attract companies who are innovating in the space.”

Along with private funds, ERTCA has received $1 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. ERTCA will relocate to Mansfield from its base in State College in the next few months and will be based at the former state police barracks on Valley Road west of Mansfield.

The facility will be named the Erick J. Coolidge Public Training Center. ERTCA has also rented a floor in Hickory Hall to house Public Safety Training Institute students.

“The Northern Tier will give members real place to focus our activities on,” said Porterfield. “This industry is at the very beginning of its growth.”

Chief Scott Henry, director of MUPSTI’s ACT 120 program, also attended the March 8 meeting.