In the first of our two-part coverage of the Novi Police Department “Security in Houses of Worship” seminar delivered this past Saturday, Saline Journal focused on the unique vulnerability of these soft targets and gut-level resistance among leadership to tackle them head-on. [1-3]
Acknowledging the need in some applications to distinguish between the terms “safety” and “security,” audience members were told that the two would be used interchangably throughout this September 7 content at Brightmoor Christian Church. [4]
This is important in dealing with the “It will never happen here” objection. Almost instinctively, a significant number of people take “it” to mean an active shooter situation. But lines, scale quickly blur when first steps are taken to examine real-world scenarios. [5]
Look no further than this coming Wednesday and the eighteenth anniversary of “9/11.” Silo thinking when it came to plans, response, and asset coordination were exposed as tragically insufficient in dealing with the assault — on so many levels. In any given house of worship, then, “it” can mean preparations to deal with fire. Medical emergencies. [6]
And, yes: Even so-called “Acts of God.” [7]
To the surprise of many, in positioning seminar content, Novi Police Detective Jon Zabick told his gathering that “small churches” are increasingly a preferred target. Larger faith-based structures are assumed to be better prepared, thus more challenging to breach. Since criminals often probe facilities for weaknesses before mounting assaults, a simple, routine network of communication among area houses of worship often proves sufficient to unearth patterns, see the need to call in local law enforcement for intervention.
Within the organization itself, Detective Zabick emphasized that the greater worry is not “starting out too small.” It is, rather, failing to start at all. In this regard, he set out a number of specifics.
- “Buy-in” among staff and leadership is “a must.” This is fundamental, and proponents should anticipate being met with concerns, push-back, and even territorialism. These are not to be feared or squelched.
- Take a “ministry approach.” The security function, team should be structured like any other ministry team: Connected, not separate. Recognize that this will seem counterintuitive.
- It may be best to form a dedicated committee charged with identifying needs, vulnerabilities, and timeline. Include insurance underwriter from the institution as part of this — in person or via electronic means (real-time or reported).
Although this team may largely or wholly consist of volunteers, self-selection is frequently not the best way of populating it. Be very hesitant to about the “Gung Ho!” individual who is overly enthusiastic about security. The best leaders here are those who are “competent, trustworthy, and hesitantly willing.”
Further, best practices indicate not only that all leaders should be trained, but that they should have “all hazards training.” Beyond more formal definitions, as a practical matter this means preparing safety team members for response to “all threats and hazards that are potential, not just violence.” [8]
Returning to the extreme case of active shooter situations, statistics from a variety of sources indicate that seventy percent of these are resolved prior to the arrival of law enforcement — many in less than two minutes. Nationwide, it takes an average of five to eighteen minutes before sworn officers are on the scene after receiving a 911 dispatch.
This made “ALICE” training a key recommendation. [9]
Finally, initiating and maintaining a structured relationship with local police should be a priority before needs arise.
In his segment on training and interfacing, Novi Sergeant Robert Manor described what appeared to be an easily accessible option for setting this up quickly and efficiently by plugging into existing Volunteers in Public Safety (VIPS) programs. VIPS is a well-established mainstay of the Novi Police Department, and a similar offering was launched in 2018 in Saline by our own Chief Jerrod Hart — formerly of Novi PD. [10-12]
At Brightmoor Church on September 7, the 2 1/2-hour seminar transitioned to practical application sessions covering the following topics.
- Implementation
- Navigating pastoral concerns
- Legal considerations
- Practical training
- “Security and the Small Congregation”
Before this, however, Detective Zabick returned to emphasize a key point. “The important thing isn’t where you start, but that you do get started. And if you’ve already got something going, stick with it.
This will always be a moving target; there’s always something new. You can’t ‘set it and forget it.’ It won’t run itself — because it can’t.
References
- “Novi Police presentation emphasized vulnerabilities in faith-based facilities – Part 1: Defining the problem” Dell Deaton (September 7, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “Police Department” City of Novi.
- “Securing Soft Targets and Crowded Places Resources” United States Department of Homeland Security.
- Brightmoor Christian Church (home page).
- “Active Shooter Resources” FBI.
- “Remember September 11, 2001 – When Our First Responders Did What They Are Dedicated To Doing Everyday, As Always” Dell Deaton (September 11, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Act of God” Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.
- “NIMS ICS All-Hazards Position Specific Training Program Official Website” US Department of Homeland Security: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- “ALICE Training: Houses of Worship” ALICE Training Institute.
- “Volunteers in Public Safety (VIPS)” City of Novi.
- “Saline Police Department Set To Debut Its New ‘Volunteers In Public Safety’ (VIPS) Program On Oktoberfest Opening Day” Dell Deaton (September 27, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Saline Police Department Volunteers Will Be On The Streets For Halloween Tonight, Issuing … Candy” Janet Deaton (October 31, 2018) Saline Journal.
