Security Against Shooters
Churches are notorious for minimal security. While acts of violence at church are rare, recent shootings raise the question: what can leaders do to protect their people? (by Andrew G. Mills )
Work with local police
Learn their plans and capabilities. Most police agencies have adopted an "active shooter" philosophy. This means moving in quickly and removing a threat with lethal force, even before an organized evacuation or the arrival of negotiators.
Police may want a survey of your facility, including:
Prevention
Situational crime expert Ronald Clarke coined these steps for avoiding an active-shooter incident:
Lockdown
At times a lockdown may be the best way to protect the congregation. During a lockdown, certain areas of the church are required to shut, lock, and barricade their doors until police arrive. Those inside during a lockdown should stay away from windows and leave room lights on to ease the police team's search. Before instituting such a policy:
If a shooter gets in …
Leaders must be decisive. If the gunman targets a pastor or some other leader, those most visible should draw attention away from the congregation. If the shooter targets the congregation, direct confrontation is essential. This is dangerous, but you can improve your chances by distracting the shooter, yelling from multiple directions, and tackling him from behind.
Call 911 as soon as possible. Police will want to know the number of shooters, location of suspects, types of weapons, possible traps or explosives, and sensitive locations such as children's areas. Stay on the line to provide real-time information to police on the scene.
When police arrive, stay on the ground until you are told to move. People have a built-in urge to run for safety. But movement creates confusion and complicates the situation for police. When you do get up, avoid sudden movements or any object in your hand that could be construed as a threat. Andrew G. Mills is a lieutenant in the San Diego (California) Police Department.
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