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Armed guards at child 'camp' questioned by state official
By CHRISTIAN BOTTORFF and SHEILA BURKE
Staff Writers
Church fighting efforts to regulate its center
A Nashville church that's fighting to keep from registering its daily child ''camp'' as a state-licensed day-care center posts armed guards on the church grounds, which is raising alarms for state human services officials.
The church also defied a court order yesterday and continued with its day camp, which accommodates more than 150 children up to age 5.
Priest Lake Community Baptist Church officials say that the guards carry their weapons legally and that the state is trying to force an ''atheist'' view on the congregation by requiring it to register as a day-care provider.
State officials say that under the law, any child-care provider cannot have any weapons around children.
''We have no intention or want to go and get a license,'' church spokesman Charles Bennett told reporters yesterday. Bennett is a deacon with the church whose 4-year-old son attends the day camp. ''We would more than comply with whatever the DHS has to offer as it relates to safety and child welfare. These are our kids; that's the thing that they seem to forget. These are our kids. If there's a safety concern there, believe me, as a parent I would be the first one to be concerned.''
Meanwhile, Michelle Mowery Johnson, spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services, questions the church's heavy security in an area of town that's reasonably safe.
''What is so wrong with that area if they need armed guards? What is going to happen to the children? It's disturbing to think that they need to have armed guards. I do not know of any other child-care centers that have them.''
The pastor of the church and his son are both former Metro Police Department employees. Harold Frelix Sr. was as civilian counselor in the department's Police Advocacy Support Services, which offers psychological services to officers and their families.
His son, Harold Frelix Jr., was a Metro officer from 1988–95.
Bennett said rules and laws that govern weapons at a child-care facility do not apply because the church is not licensed as such.
Church officials say they are not offering child care; rather, they're holding daily church services 6 a.m.-6 p.m., and they should be exempt from state laws. Children's parents pay weekly fees to attend.
Every day and night, at least a handful of guards in orange shirts patrol in golf carts on the church grounds, Bennett said. They frequently stop, question and escort guests who come to the church property. The guards' weapons have not been visible; their orange shirts are pulled over their belt lines. The church also has an extensive surveillance system, he said.
Bennett said the armed guards have had extensive training through a gun-training course. The church guards receive monthly updates on their training and they are licensed by the state to carry firearms, he said.
''They're all trained by the best,'' Bennett said.
He would not say what types of weapons they carry and exactly how many guards are employed. Bennett said church officials say that the state is overstepping boundaries to exert ''power'' over the church, including what the church perceives is an ''atheist'' agenda.
Bennett said church officials are concerned that information is out about the security. He blames state officials for making that public.
He said the guards are on the premises ''just to have that presence'' and also to keep away criminals who would seek to vandalize the church buildings. The armed guards are present both day and night, he said.
State officials learned about the armed guards after an anonymous tip this week to DHS, which referred the matter to the state Department of Children's Services, Mowery Johnson said.
Child welfare officials yesterday launched a 60-day investigation into the welfare of the children at the church, said Carla Aaron, spokeswoman for DCS.
Aaron would not reveal the scope of the DCS investigation, although she said investigators will see whether any families at the church ever have had contact with DCS.
Frelix Sr. denied state officials access to the property yesterday. State officials cited state law, which allows investigators to inspect child-care centers and those ''suspected'' of conducting child care.
Chancellor Richard Dinkins said the restraining order he signed Monday, which was intended to stop the church from operating its day camp, was necessary to protect the public. The church ignored that order yesterday, saying it was not valid because it included incorrect information, and continued to accept children into the daily program. Dinkins set a hearing for tomorrow to give church officials a chance to respond to the DHS complaint.
Furthermore, Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle signed an order yesterday that requires the church to let state inspectors inside the property. That's expected to be served today, said Mowery Johnson. State officials would respond with further attempts to inspect the property, she said.
Armed guards at child 'camp' questioned by state official
By CHRISTIAN BOTTORFF and SHEILA BURKE
Staff Writers
Church fighting efforts to regulate its center
A Nashville church that's fighting to keep from registering its daily child ''camp'' as a state-licensed day-care center posts armed guards on the church grounds, which is raising alarms for state human services officials.
The church also defied a court order yesterday and continued with its day camp, which accommodates more than 150 children up to age 5.
Priest Lake Community Baptist Church officials say that the guards carry their weapons legally and that the state is trying to force an ''atheist'' view on the congregation by requiring it to register as a day-care provider.
State officials say that under the law, any child-care provider cannot have any weapons around children.
''We have no intention or want to go and get a license,'' church spokesman Charles Bennett told reporters yesterday. Bennett is a deacon with the church whose 4-year-old son attends the day camp. ''We would more than comply with whatever the DHS has to offer as it relates to safety and child welfare. These are our kids; that's the thing that they seem to forget. These are our kids. If there's a safety concern there, believe me, as a parent I would be the first one to be concerned.''
Meanwhile, Michelle Mowery Johnson, spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services, questions the church's heavy security in an area of town that's reasonably safe.
''What is so wrong with that area if they need armed guards? What is going to happen to the children? It's disturbing to think that they need to have armed guards. I do not know of any other child-care centers that have them.''
The pastor of the church and his son are both former Metro Police Department employees. Harold Frelix Sr. was as civilian counselor in the department's Police Advocacy Support Services, which offers psychological services to officers and their families.
His son, Harold Frelix Jr., was a Metro officer from 1988–95.
Bennett said rules and laws that govern weapons at a child-care facility do not apply because the church is not licensed as such.
Church officials say they are not offering child care; rather, they're holding daily church services 6 a.m.-6 p.m., and they should be exempt from state laws. Children's parents pay weekly fees to attend.
Every day and night, at least a handful of guards in orange shirts patrol in golf carts on the church grounds, Bennett said. They frequently stop, question and escort guests who come to the church property. The guards' weapons have not been visible; their orange shirts are pulled over their belt lines. The church also has an extensive surveillance system, he said.
Bennett said the armed guards have had extensive training through a gun-training course. The church guards receive monthly updates on their training and they are licensed by the state to carry firearms, he said.
''They're all trained by the best,'' Bennett said.
He would not say what types of weapons they carry and exactly how many guards are employed. Bennett said church officials say that the state is overstepping boundaries to exert ''power'' over the church, including what the church perceives is an ''atheist'' agenda.
Bennett said church officials are concerned that information is out about the security. He blames state officials for making that public.
He said the guards are on the premises ''just to have that presence'' and also to keep away criminals who would seek to vandalize the church buildings. The armed guards are present both day and night, he said.
State officials learned about the armed guards after an anonymous tip this week to DHS, which referred the matter to the state Department of Children's Services, Mowery Johnson said.
Child welfare officials yesterday launched a 60-day investigation into the welfare of the children at the church, said Carla Aaron, spokeswoman for DCS.
Aaron would not reveal the scope of the DCS investigation, although she said investigators will see whether any families at the church ever have had contact with DCS.
Frelix Sr. denied state officials access to the property yesterday. State officials cited state law, which allows investigators to inspect child-care centers and those ''suspected'' of conducting child care.
Chancellor Richard Dinkins said the restraining order he signed Monday, which was intended to stop the church from operating its day camp, was necessary to protect the public. The church ignored that order yesterday, saying it was not valid because it included incorrect information, and continued to accept children into the daily program. Dinkins set a hearing for tomorrow to give church officials a chance to respond to the DHS complaint.
Furthermore, Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle signed an order yesterday that requires the church to let state inspectors inside the property. That's expected to be served today, said Mowery Johnson. State officials would respond with further attempts to inspect the property, she said.
