Preparing Your Church for a Security Crisis

On January 24, 2018, a Crisis and Security Summit was held by AM 980 The Mission in Bloomington. This informational event featured expert speakers and Q & A to help churches assess if they are prepared in the event of a crisis.

 

Notes from the AM980 Crisis and Security Summit:

Bryan Koulmann, Church Mutual Insurance

• Train Employees & Volunteers to be a 1^st line of defense 
• Almost every disaster, incident of violence & act of terrorism has warning signals- Train EVERYONE
• Only 70% of U.S. businesses have a violence plan
• Who are the bad guys? 96% Male, 34% female. Median Age of 35.
• Since 2015 U.S. Mass Shootings topped 300 with 475 Deaths and 1,800+ Injuries
• Implement physical security, intelligence network- monitoring & response protocols if threat materializes
• Red Flags in behavior: Comments about suicide, intimidating comments about hurting someone else, fits of rage, destroying property
• A Crisis Management & communication plans are needed- crisis have impacts good & bad.
• ALICE Training– Active Shooter Response training

Cyber-attacks are becoming more and more prevalent and plans need to be put in place to protect you and your church or organization

• Limit use of USB drives
• Protect your passwords by keeping them in a secure place
• Periodically back up important files to a network or external hard drive
• Find out whom to contact if your computer gets hacked
• Consider cyber liability insurance

 

Benjamin Brewer, Alertus Technologies on behalf of Summit Companies

Emergency Notification System Trends & Best Practices:

• There are multiple current infrastructures you may have that can help during emergency situations: Text Message, Email, Facebook, Twitter, Website, Computer, Digital Signal, Cable TV, Fire Systems, VOIP phone, Access Control, & Outdoor PA Systems. Use these to your advantage
• Integrate all notification assets
• Single point of activation
• Fill in gaps with innovating alerting endpoints
• Leverage Varied Capabilities- Sound, Visual, Engagement
• Hardware to consider: Alert Beacon, Panic Button, Alert Display, VoIP Phones, Apps, Cable TV override, Activation/Emergency Operation Center
• Daily or weekly functional testing
• Evaluate organizational effects & needs
• Periodic scenario based system tests

 

John Novotny, MN Armed Responsible Citizen

Stopping the Mass Shooter Trend:

• The trend of mass shooters are increasing since 2000
• 46% of mass shooter events happen as businesses, 24% at places of education, 9% outdoors, 10% government properties, 4% at churches, etc.
• 40% of mass shooters commit suicide, 23% attacker shot by police, 14% subdued by intended victims, 8% attacker leaves
• Average police response times to events- 4-9 Minutes after 911 is called
• 85% of mass shootings occur in gun free zones- Take down the signs that say “This is a gun free zone”

How do you get a permit to carry a fire-arm in MN:

• Attend a “Permit to Carry a Firearm” course conducted by an instructed certified by an organization approved by the MN Department of Public Safety
• Apply for a permit (in person) at your local sheriff’s office and bring the following:
  • Accurate copy of course completion
  • Valid Government ID
  • Completed Application
  • $100 application fee
• Sherriff’s have 30 days to conduct a background investigation
• Look at getting conceal & carry insurance to protect yourself legally and financially

If you are interested in attending another Church Security Summit, North Central District 3 is holding a Church Security Summit at Constance Free Church in the North Metro on Sat. February 17th. Learn more here.

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