TRAINING FOR SECURITY LEADERS

In addition to the free training offered by FEMA recomended on another page high quality courses taught by trained professionals is paramont to providing the best possible protection for your congregation. I suggest that not only the church security team leaders take these courses but the senior pastor, church book keeper and at least a few church elders as well. I have found in some, if not many churches, leadership sends security leaders for training and when they come back with recomendations as to changing how offerings are collected and handled, childrens workers are screened and especially any important issues that require change to services or money spent they may tend to not take their security team leadership seriously. Church leadership should at least rotate sending as many as possible to these seminars to better understand the security teams needs to protect from not only active shooters but sexual preditors, internal theft and a host of other issues. There are many good courses with instructors that travel all over the nation. Send as many of your security team, staff, leadership and even leaders in the usher, greeter, childrens ministry, parking lot staff to courses or at least offer to let them pay their own way if the church budget can't afford it. A few will pay their own way to training that they believe will improve their ability to serve. To God be the Glory, lets keep our congregations safe. Please click on the different schools recomended and pray as to which will be important to keep your flock safer through well trained security staff.

Training Force USA is mostly a law enforcement training company but offer church security specific courses as well. Also some of their law enforcement classes may be important for your security team leadership, church leadership or entire security team if funds allow. Good training is the basis of good security and that training is not a one time thing but something that should continually be built on. SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR PLACES OF WORSHIP is their must have class for church security team leaders, pastors, leaders and anyone who you can get into a class. TRIAGE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS is a class I would suggest for all security team members as "battlefield first aid" will be important in the event of an active shooter event. DE-ESCALATION TACTICS and SKILLS for OFFICER SAFETY would be great for your leadership in church greeters, ushers, childrens ministry leaders and parking lot staff that are often the first to interact with problem people. When or if an unfortunate event happens in your church then PROPERTY and EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT would be great for security team leadership to have and pass along to the entire team during in church training. STALLING FOR TIME: CRISIS/HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION SKILLS would be good to have a few people trained in as a professional approach to negotiating with someone can keep violence from beginning or possibly delay many from being hurt even after an event breaks out by convincing a person it may be better to not hurt anyone else or to give up their plan in a hostage situation. INVESTIGATING USING SOCIAL MEDIA and the INTERNET is a great way to learn how to look at someone of concern in your congregation whether it be for violence, theft or sexual predators. I have used internet investigting trchniques to catch several convicted preditors trying to get into childrens ministry. Be sure to visit the website and ask about classes near you and if you have enough people in-house training can possibly be arrainged.

SHEEPDOG CHURCH SECURITY

Sheepdog Church Security is a reputible company who like Training Force USA has been around since before churches became such high profile and common targets. They provide in house training as well as books, elecronic media and other services that both small and large churches can use according to their budget. While online or video training has its merits never forget an accredited and professional in person class where the students can interact with their teachers are almost always a better option. That said any well prepared course that can be used to train people at their schedule and inexpensive price is a great way to continuosly keep your team in the learning process.

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