Church Security Resources

[Loosedhorse]

It is absolutely true that most church "security" needs would involve theft, vandalism, and other non-violent crimes. But I can understand if the focus is less on things that insurance can cover, and more on unlikely lethal threats that must be prevented or stopped.

By all means invite the CLEO, maybe the Fire chief, too. They will have ideas. If folks in the congregation are planning on being armed, not bad that these folks know that if an emergency comes up.

The keys will always be the same: minimum access (all doors locked except those mandated open by fire code), and eyes on those open doors. Cell phones. What to do about the security of folks alone in the building (when locking up, cleaning, or opening up), and of children.

It's quite a project, and it won't be perfect, but something is far better than nothing. And, yes, it would be silly not to have plans in place for fire and medical emergencies--anything where lives are on the line.

 

[smince]

I was emailed this link to another Jeanne Assam interview today:
http://www.policeone.com/policeonetv/videos/3557462-jeanne-assam-on-security-at-new-life-church/

 

[Deltaboy1984]

http://www.kybaptist.org/kbc.nsf/pages/safe-church-initiative.html

 

[smince]

The first church security seminar I went to was put on by the Alabama Baptist Convention.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

At my church I set on the left hand of the facing the pastor on the 4th row from the front. We have armed PD , FBI and a Armed State Judge in our church. They all set in a pre planed areas of the church and along with the Deacons and Ushers look for anything out of sorts. We keep most outside doors locked and the open ones are always maned.

 

[Jonah71]

I talked to someone a while ago and they said the "security plan" was that any unarmed church members better hit the floor to clear the air for the armed members.

I'm honestly not sure if he was joking or not.

He may not have been joking. But that may not work at my church. We may have more people left standing than on the floor. Not really sure if I'm joking or not. But seriously, churches should have a plan these days. We're not in "Kansas" anymore.

 

[Dan Bear]

In Utah, you can carry a gun almost anywhere. At a bar, at grade schools and colleges, but not at church. LDS church that is.... which is 98% of the churches in the state. It is by the request of the church. Not sure if any other states are like that but would be interested in knowing.

 

[fallout mike]

In Mississippi you can carry in a church if you have permission.

 

[cleardiddion]

Ok, so essentially if you're going to do security you need to do these steps:

Do a risk assessment and deem which are the most important assets.
Analyze results.
Begin programs to improve upon security risks, most effective is what's called CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design, lights and things of the sort).
Once things are implemented, begin an excercise program to test and improve upon security plan/options.
Analyze results of excercise and repeat.

This gives a fair assessment to the first step, risk assessment, and should be a nice starting point:
http://www.capital.dhs.vic.gov.au/c.../ConstructionHealthSafety/RiskAssessmentForm/

It's for construction but it gives a fair idea.