Page 10 - Campus Security & Life Safety, January 2018

COVER STORY
THE FINE LINE
For Jim McGuffey, Antiterrorism Assistance Independent Instructor for A.C.E. Security Consultants, the balance for every church is differ- ent, but there are a few things that each church can do to give leaders and congregants peace of mind.
“There are many policies and procedures that can be implemented that don’t cost money or create undue concern to protect staff and house of worship members,” McGuffey said. “If leadership communi- cates safety and security in a professional and well-thought-out pro- cess, it can be done without increasing fear.”
Churches all over the country are trying to do just that. For example, in Southwest Florida, Fort Myers’ Riverside Church added concrete barricades to the front of the building, near its entrance, as a response to the deadly incident in South Texas. The church believed the barriers were necessary to prevent any kind of vehicle attack at the church but that they are subtle enough to look built into the architecture of the building instead of coming off as a glaring security measure.
In Central Texas, church campuses are deciding to ban concealed carry permit holders from bringing their guns into sanctuaries. For Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, the Sutherland Springs shoot- ing further cemented their decision to ban guns from their sanctuary. In addition to the ban, they’ve also created volunteer security teams and work closely with the Austin Police Department to educate their members about safety and security.
RESPONSIBILITY TO SECURE
According to McGuffey, the responsibility falls on the campus of wor- ship to keep its members and staff safe when they are on the premises.
That starts with a little education.
“Education in this area can occur with the pastor providing brief
announcements,” McGuffey said. “Sunday school teachers can provide educational messages, pamphlets can be distributed, church websites can share educational videos and messages and special events can be shared for leaders to attend.”
To be ready for specific emergencies, McGuffey suggests church campuses create evacuation plans for active shooter events, earth- quakes and others loss events.
“If done correctly, members will appreciate the concern leadership has for safety,” McGuffey said.
FAITH BASED AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS
To help church campuses have a well-rounded education on security and safety, the Trump Administration is strengthening their efforts to train places of worship on emergency security protocols.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships began to focus on security during the Obama Administration after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, developing active shooter trainings for schools and houses of worship.
Jamie Johnson, the office’s director, said that recently they have seen “an increased level of concern” from “every faith tradition” when it comes to security.
“This is a wing of American evangelicalism that is deeply hurting right now,” Johnson said. “We are going to be a whole lot busier in the months and years to come when it comes to safety and security for houses of worship. This issue will now come to the forefront of the
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