Church Safety Seminar Training Active Shooter

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      Seminar Notes by Greg Fischer

      October 2015

      Alan Rooney from Forest Chapel United Methodist Church on Sharon Road Springdale.
      Dennis B at Vineyard
       
      Presented by:
      Springdale Police Community Service Officer Joseph Ture 
      Police station: 513 346 5760
      Email jture@ springdale.org
      Office/voice mail 513-346-5530
      Springdale.org

      Wm Marshall Duke
      Pastor for Pastoral Care
      Springdale Church of the Nazarene
      11177 Springfield Pike
      Cincinnati, Ohio  45246
      Office:  (513)-771-3571, ext. 121
      Mobile: (513)-703-5706
      Fax:     (513)-771-3587
      email:  mduke@ springdalenaz.com

      Rev. Daryl Blank, Senior Pastor
      Springdale Church of the Nazarene
      11177 Springfield Pike
      Cincinnati, Ohio  45246
      dblank@springdalenaz.com
      513-771-3571

      Ohio crime prevention association created the course which is 9 hr. This is shortened to 4 hr.

      House of Worship Crime Prevention

      Save a life, prevent a serious injury, protect child from sexual abuse, prevent theft of funds, protect reputation of place of worship leaders, prevent a costly lawsuit through due diligence and proper insurance.

      Church is no longer protected from lawsuits or charitable immunity.

      Many incidents are due to poor youth supervision, unsafe facilities. 

      Risk assessment
      Minimize
      Address problems of crime and law suites.

      Plan for fire
      Plan for alarm during services
      Plan for weather catastrophes with shelter areas clearly marked.

      Background check for staff who work with children.

      "two unrelated adults rule" in nursery

      An attorney attacks a lack of plans and procedure.  “Test of reasonable care”
      Have a sexual abuse plan.

      Law suite cost easily $50,000.00

      Policy procedure is a guideline

      People sue for any reason at any time

      Can’t assume that your church insurance will cover all of the costs so review your coverage.

      Liability limits and exclusions, we need to know these.

      Risk management
      Avoid risk - say no
      Control the risk - policy and procedures
      Transfer risk - certificate of insurance to another entity 
      Reduce the odds of being sued and improve the security and safety of all people using the facility. Make a policy for all events.

      2 of 5 churches have a risk management program in place

      Create written policies to safeguard various aspects of your organization.

      Guideline to work by for all employees

      1. Physical Security
      2. Personal Security
      3. Youth 
      4. Critical
      drunks, brake-ins, vandalism, robbery, one every 14.7 seconds in US.
      smash and grabs
      arson 1 of 4 are arson fires
      shootings
      child abductions
      terrorism
      medical - heart attack, training
      weather

      Exterior Door markings
      Door 2-B or 2-E or 13
      Number rooms from outside on windows. 

      Man made emergencies
      Weapons in the church
      Mentally unstable persons are a risk. Often they are relatives in the church.
      Domestic violence in a church
      Active shooter will take their own life if confronted by a person with a weapon.

      Notify Staff member in charge of security. Call the police.
      Obey all demands and instructions
      Remain calm because panic will only make the situation worse.

      Don't confront someone with a weapon.

      Check with insurance company for safety and templates for procedure.
      They err on the side of the least liability. Only a guide line.

      3 major insurance companies insure most churches.

      If safety permits, flee the area.

      Direct to a safe location or go to lockable classrooms and offices.

      Install curtain on interior door windows.

      Do not leave secure room and be silent.

      Direct people with a pa system or voice fire alarm system.

      Lock doors by notification policy for all associated buildings (CCCH)

      Aggressors get tunnel vision in the situation and won’t hear a pa system.
      Aggressor has a mission, agenda, on a clock and knows it is limited.

      Policy on line search may only be a guideline. Don’t make it too specific.

      Symbol for no gun 

      No matter what happens on church property you will get sued.

      Police can also get tunnel vision. 

      What to do when a threatening or dangerous person who is not armed with a weapon enters the church during times of worship.

      Ohio can carry concealed weapon but not in a church. No signs on door = no CCW. training on weapon is not inept but not good or an expert. Minimum requirements.

      2923.126 Duties of licensed individual.
      (A)
       A concealed handgun license that is issued under section 
      2923.125
       of the Revised Code shall expire five years after the date of issuance. A licensee who has been issued a license under that section shall be granted a grace period of thirty days after the licensee's license expires during which the licensee's license remains valid. Except as provided in divisions (B) and (C) of this section, a licensee who has been issued a concealed handgun license under section 
      2923.125
       
      or2923.1213 of the Revised Code may carry a concealed handgun anywhere in this state if the licensee also carries a valid license and valid identification when the licensee is in actual possession of a concealed handgun. The licensee shall give notice of any change in the licensee's residence address to the sheriff who issued the license within forty-five days after that change.
      (B)
       A valid concealed handgun license does not authorize the licensee to carry a concealed handgun in any manner prohibited under division (B) of section 
      2923.12
       of the Revised Code or in any manner prohibited under section 
      2923.16
       of the Revised Code. A valid license does not authorize the licensee to carry a concealed handgun into any of the following places:
      (6)
       Any church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship, unless the church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship posts or permits otherwise;

      Security team can carry if session gives permission.  written form.

      No CCW advertises that no one will have a gun. Don't put up a sign. Ohio is open carry state. Target can prohibit entry to open.

      Sign "we are a gun toting church"

      Ultimately, people are responsible for their own personal safety.

      tdi of Ohio, Google this, he does training - ask for qualifications, experience,

      Some people may appear to have rebellious intentions but in reality have no such intentions.

      Speaking in toungs or animated with worship.

      Indicates danger for themselves or others call the police. Under the influence call every time. Remove to a private area. 

      De-escalate the situation - identify staff people who can help in the situation

      Stay calm always - ask why they are there. Don't disrupt the people.

      Office hours during the week. Don’t give cash but rather vouchers or prepaid credit cards. 

      Only one door to open with video or someone at the door to greet the person. 

      Greg, add more monitors for cameras now.

      Glass allows access to building with one round.

      Inner and outer perimeter of the church is the exterior walls.

      Follow active shooter on camera and call 911. 

      Camera in office areas

      Call 911 if a gun knife carrying person is in sight.

      Delegate a 911 caller. Don't assume. 

      Silent call buttons at all desks with alarm.  

      Community service officer works with businesses.

      Call 911 if a Stranger you are not comfortable with someone and don't know their intentions.

      Lock all exterior doors

      PAINT the interior of the church now!

      Turn off all lights if you are in hiding.

      Code words for emergency to share with congregation to announce an all clear. External buildings stay in the building.

      Outbursts of anger-adults are better at controlling anger than children

      Expressing frustrations in a non productive way

      Violent acts mental illness-family members who have mental illness may be hereditary and can escalate to violent.

      Attempt of suicide may commit violent acts. Have a safety net in place with someone close to the room. Ohio law allows for the police to a 72 hr hold on suicidal persons. Councilor or doctor can also do it. 

      At risk youth 

      Failing to follow societal rules-individuals  disregard the rules. They don’t have the same perceptions of behavioral limits as others. Varies with the individual.

      Crime prevention officer in police department. Makes recommendations to consider.

      Send two letters, one by regular mail and one by certified letter for a trespass warning? 

      sign up for no under the influence? apply for trespass. 

      Manage Critical Incidents
      Planning
      Organize
              before, during, after
      Shelter in place, evacuation, reunification issues.
              reunification site planned and announced
      Address specific events, shelter, PA system.

      Staff should know this.
      Work with the local police department to make the plan.

      Most injuries and damage occurs in the first 10 minutes. plan to respond to those first 10

      Plan in 3 ring binder in plastic document protectors. Index Staff responsibility Staff access to copies.
      Have them in multiple locations around facility.
      Review and update regularly.

      Write the manual in bulleted for, not paragraphed. Not wordy but simple.

      font 14 to 16

      Pre list critical phone numbers for all who would be called. 

      Write specific procedure for natural and man made disasters. 

      Environmental engineering staff. 

      Fire
      Tornado 
      Earthquake 
      Hazardous spill
      Intruders 
      Neighbors 

      Training staff volunteers 
      Monitor weather report 

      Communications 
      Congregation 
      Media
      Official investigation 

      PA system 

      Church speaker for media

      Recovery plan
      Off site
      Inventory of church
      Backup off-site

      Required only for fire
      Needed for storms or shooter
      Utility shout off
      Emergency valves, breakers marked and located. 

      Disaster supplies 
      Flash light batteries 
      Food water 
      Generators with Gasoline
      Spare cell. Phones 
      Blankets 

      Fire or gas leak evacuation 
      First aid station

      Locate on floor plan

      Walkie talkies

      Regular campus inspections
      Trip hazard should be repaired or painted bright.
      Cords
      Loose handrail

      Staff certification 
      Child management 
      Non traditional - on drugs- notice ccw
      Bump is feeling for a gun
      Suspected package identification
      Confidential excessive postage
      Misspelled words 
      Badly type 
      Protruding wires
      Lopsided 
      Sandy noise
      Odors 
      Stains
      Crystals on wrappers 
      Rubber gloves
      Designated table 
      Hold to light 
      Use a catch box
      Opener
      Call fire department of subspecies 
      Open from envelope bottom
      Not near window 
      Put suspected envelope in zip lock
      Don't put in drawer or closet
      1-10 bleach to sanitize only lasts 1 year

      Protests require permit 
      Criminal trespass Public right of way is 10-12’ from curb

      Ask to sit and silent
      Ask to leave then in violation 

      Lone wolf attack 
      Hostage
      Kidnapped 
      Gun 
      Bomb
      Package 
      2-3 persons at night
      Never close with one person 

      Organizable Protocol 

      Teams CSS security safety
      First aid

      Quality team members
      Meet regularly develop

      Support of session 
      FFAT elders deacons staff

      Servant leadership 
      Only takes 1 incessant to damage church

      Terminate employee
      1-8 theft
      1-100 sexual
      Team Members
      Risk management people are good to be on the team to do an assessment
      HR
      Goals for team 
      Written 
      Qualifications respected adult honest 
      Coordinator doesn't have to be on the team. 
      Hierarchy in team
      Leader
      Communication 
      Staff liaison 

      Weed out non qualified 
      At will ask to leave
      Vineyard has about 5 plain clothes police to mingle, uniformed in lot

      All is well to impart feeling

      Visual monitor
      Parking lot monitor with vest obviously 

      SECURITY in numbers
      Take the money to the bank with a second person.

      Team responsibilities
      Platform security near the stage

      Present while offering is taken and counted

      Team members can be dispensers of information such as location of Sunday school rooms , restrooms, sanctuary and other areas

      When should a service be disrupted?
      Information about restraining orders on parents and custodial rights for parents

      Children areas should be patrolled

      Belligerent or display assaultive behavior and refuse to leave the property when asked.

      Any immediate danger

      Team calling tree
      Team duties
      Facility floor plans
      2923.126 duties of licensed individual concealed handgun license
      Can’t carry into church unless the church  or other pace of worship unless it posts or permits.

      A knife can be in your pocket but if it is used as a weapon it is ccw and a crime.
      it’s not a weapon to peel an apple.

      Carry concealed weapon is a minor charge. Attempted assault is a felony

      5 security team for chpc
      3 for first 100 and 1 per each additional 100 

      “If it was my house i wouldn't let them in but a church does to minister to them."

      Escort any unknown suspicious visitor
      Cincinnati Police has a neighborhood liaison officer
      Financial
      Electronic
      Organizational Protocol
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