12/01/2017
My purpose is not to tell you what you must or should do, but what you can do to enhance the protection of your church/place of worship congregation. Every church is a little different in size, location, resources and desires, but one thing they all have in common is the possibility and threat of violence from one or more persons. I don’t care what size or the denomination, all churches are susceptible to domestic violence and child abduction and they are the most probable threats.
I will break this down into three separate but equally important parts; DETERRENCE, DETECTION and RESPONSE.
Deterrence and Detection
They are two separate functions, but work simultaneously.
I think we can all agree that the best way to handle a violent attack is to identify it early and if possible, turn it away. So, how can we do that at church? Security should start in the parking lot and church grounds. Anytime we can identify a problem or threat before it reaches the inside sanctuary, that’s a good thing. The parking lot is your first line and outer layer of your church’s defense. Is the parking lot and church grounds well-lit at night? Identifying a problem or violent threat here will give you and local first responders (police/fire/rescue) more time to respond before it possibly gets inside. I recommend at least two church member volunteers to be parking lot watchers/greeters before and during all services and Sunday school, to include weekday services and functions. If you have more than one service, you can have two shifts of watchers.
These watchers/greeters should always try to be friendly and welcoming, and in particular, those they don’t know or recognize. You still want to keep the church welcoming to everyone, but in your mind, you are being very watchful for problems. By engaging folks in a friendly manner, you can easily access those who might not be acting friendly or are trying hard not to be noticed. Look closely at body language indicators and the attitude you are perceiving from them. Are they wearing a long or thick coat, and it’s very warm out, or carrying a package you normally wouldn’t bring to church? In the security business we call this “behavioral profiling”.
At any time, you feel suspicions or uncomfortable with a person(s), you should not hesitate to call law enforcement and inform someone in the church and/or the security team, if you have one. Small handheld radios can be an immense help, but everybody should have a phone to call 911. Can you refuse entry to anyone who is exhibiting actual disruptive or threatening behavior? Absolutely!!! Just call for assistance immediately.
Remember that outside area can give you the time and warning you might need in case of an emergency.
Still discussing deterrence and detection, let’s move to the outside of the building itself. Here is where I have found many problems when assisting churches with threat assessments. It seems that the larger the church building(s) the more access doors they have. This may be difficult, but any door that grants access into the building from the outside, should have a watcher/greeter just inside or outside. Just like the watcher/greeters in the parking lot, they welcome and engage everyone with friendly conversation and “Behavioral Profiling”. If an access door is not particularly needed at any time, it should be locked from outside access. Doors with common inside panic bars that allow egress in care of fire or emergency are an excellent option. They are the kind commonly seen at school buildings. Entrances to the building(s) are your second line or layer of defense.
These visible and engaging first two layers just might make an attacker realize you are not an unaware and soft target, and just might make them reevaluate their plan or go look elsewhere.
Inside the building (third layer), there must be those who also watch for people and situations that just don’t seem right or inappropriate; hostile or disruptive behavior, fighting, suspicious behavior. These watchers can be volunteers, deacons, ushers or part of an organized security team or combination of all. The more eyes the better. At any time, any situation becomes violent or eminently dangerous, you should call 911 immediately. You can always cancel the call or at least let responders know the situation has abated or the person(s) left the premises.
Before I get into Response, let me mention a bit more on “Target Hardening” or doing some additional physical security to your church building(s). Besides those access doors, make sure all windows are securely locked, and if a window is open for ventilation, someone should be there or close enough to watch it.
External and internal recording security cameras are an expensive purchase, but can be a very effective tool for identifying threats.
Internal alarm system (besides burglary alarm)
If a situation becomes violent or dangerous and you have different functions going on at the same time in different parts of the church, it is good to have a system to let everyone know there is a problem. An electric bell alarm, loudspeaker system or hand air horns can all be useful for this purpose. For example; long continuous ring or blast – EVACUATE!! (As for a fire emergency) or Continuous short blasts or rings – LOCKDOWN (as for a dangerous threat).
Lockdown will hinder free and easy access to rooms and areas inside the church building. Most larger churches have a sanctuary, office, Sunday school rooms, children’s church room, youth activity room and the all-important nursery, and many times these may be all used at the same time. If a lockdown is called for and the alarm is given, can these different spaces properly secure the doors or access to them? Doorknob wafer-locks or even dead bolts on most interior doors can be defeated by a good push or kick. Security bars, wedges and blocks can be purchased or homemade that can make these areas much harder to access by a determined attacker. I always place a bigger priority on the nursery, children’s church, and youth areas, because of the common threat of domestic violence and child abduction, and even by unauthorized parents or family members (and they are the most common offenders). Hopefully your church already has a strict and adhered to process for checking the kiddies in and out.
Additionally, if your church has a playground, it should be monitored by a responsible adult at all times when in use.
Response
As already mentioned, your best and first response is calling 911. If someone is exhibiting hostile behavior you can do your best to get them to calm down or leave, if they are using physical non-deadly force against you or others, you can defend yourself in a like manner. If they are using deadly force against you, again you can lawfully respond in a like manner, or disengage (run) and take cover till first responders arrive. Hopefully, the emergency lockdown procedure we discussed has already been activated and completed. The time you will have to wait for first responders will depend on the proximity of your church to the nearest responders and the average response time for your jurisdiction. Churches in rural areas may be longer than those in urban areas.
Today, because of recent attacks and mass shootings at places of worship across the nation, many churches are looking into and adding armed security teams. This is up to the church leadership and congregation in most cases. Some churches will decide they don’t want any weapons in church, and that is their right to do. So, If the church leadership or pastor decides that no one can carry a firearm in the church, you are required to comply with their wishes in most jurisdictions, even if you have a permit to carry.
If that is the case, all the security suggestions and ideas above still can be important and helpful to you to protect your membership. You may want to talk to your local first responders to ask what the average response time is in your area.
Another option is to hire (pay) off-duty law enforcement officers, depending on that agency’s policies for such employment and state and local laws concerning such hiring of off-duty officers.
Armed Security Teams and armed membership
Now, if your church decides to organize an armed security team, I have some important suggestions.
Research the laws about using armed security in the church in your state and local area.
Have a conversation with the company agent that provides your church’s insurance.
Make sure you vet the people who you use to man your security team. Most states require a background check for a concealed carry permit, but not all states have a process for teaching self-defense laws concerning use of force and deadly force. (there is a difference), and they might be different concerning defense of a third party. Not all states require a live fire competency test. I would make sure all members who are on a church sponsored security team have this knowledge, are tested on it, AND IT’S DOCUMENTED! Yearly testing and any related law update classes would be suggested.
Remember, drawing and pointing a gun is deadly force, and if deadly force is not appropriate, you could be charged with Brandishing, Assault by Pointing a Gun or possibly the common law crime of Going Armed to the Terror of the Public. Another reason for knowing the laws of self-defense very well.
In North Carolina and many other states, open-carry or constitutional carry is legal. Personally, I don’t recommend that open-carry be allowed in church or on church grounds for many reasons, but that is your church’s decision. That being said, I personally would not restrict any church member from legally carrying concealed for personal protection, but again, that’s the churches decision.
Training, Training Training!!!!
Any armed team should have realistic, recurrent and documented training. Team members should undergo handgun safety & proficiency training, qualification and decision shooting scenarios, Remember, a church can be a crowded, loud and very confusing place during an armed incident. Qualification courses can be made up to fit your church’s needs, but should be realistic. Decision shooting exercises can be done with toy guns or maybe airsoft with proper safety equipment.
Again, TRAINING, TESTING, DOCUMENTATION!!
IMPORTANT!!!
First responders on arrival may not immediately know who is a good or bad guy. As soon as they arrive, put down your weapon and put your hands up, palms towards the officers. This will keep you from being shot. Be prepared for a long crime scene investigation and being questioned more than once. It’s the same drill that the officers themselves go through when involved in a shooting. If you wish to be questioned with your attorney present, tell the questioning officers that respectfully.
Seek competent professional training!
Additional Considerations
If you have armed security or not, consider some training different members of your congregation for aftermath training. Think about gunshot wounds, major bleeding, CPR, natural disasters, fire, explosions, medical problems such as heart attacks (do you have AEDs?) These things can be helped until EMS arrives.
Again, these are suggestions for you to consider. If you follow or do all or some of them is up to your church leadership. But sad to say, this is the new normal.
