10th Annual National Church Security Conference

10th Annual National Church Security Conference

Dates: Friday and Saturday August 8th and 9th

Location: New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hosted By:

Click Here to Register

	Chuck Chadwick	Chuck Chadwick founded Gatekeepers Alliance in January of 2002 as an informal meeting of Security/Facilities Directors from some of the largest churches in the DFW area. Meetings were held to discuss issues/challenges and it was found that regardless of location the issues/challenges were similar. Chuck's home church (Fellowship Church, Grapevine, TX) grew from 6,000 TWA (Typical worship Attendance) to 22K and then from one location to multi-site. At the height of the organization Chuck directed and multi-jurisdictional task force of some 40 officers composed of Law Enforcement, Private Protection Officer, Security Guards and volunteers. In 2005 Chuck left full time Church Security Director employment to dedicate his life to Gatekeepers Alliance teaching seminars and putting together “Best Practices” for churches around the nation. The first Church Security Conference was held at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano TX in 2005. Chuck continues to direct the security operations of some of the largest churches in America through Gatekeepers Security Services, LLC. a Texas Corporation.  Conferences and Seminars are held several times a year in churches across the nation and membership has grown to hundreds of member churches. In November of 2007 the name of the organization was changed to, The National Organization of Church Security and Safety Management, LLC - "We feel the name change better reflects the broader scope and purpose of the organization”. NOCSSM continues the original mission by providing educational courses, conferences for churches throughout the nation as the "First Name in Church Security".
	Carl Chinn	Carl Chinn was introduced to the need for security while serving as Building Engineer for Focus on the Family – a Colorado ministry founded (and led at the time) by Dr. James Dobson. Like others in faith-based management, Chinn had dismissed the subject of emergency readiness through much of his career, considering it an inconvenient distraction of debatable importance. Experiences changed his views on the subject. In 1996 he was a responder in a standoff with an angry gunman who took hostages at the Focus on the Family ministry. Following the attacker’s trial, Chinn began researching and writing on the subject of criminal and other incidents in North American ministries. In 2005, he and others began to develop an intentional security program for New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. He was one of the team of responders directly involved with the active shooter on 12/09/2007. He continues to serve New Life security as the threat investigator and liaison between law enforcement and ministry security operations. Chinn travels and speaks at national conferences on the subject of real life lessons learned in the ministry security incidents experienced. His research and experiences have been featured in national media and publications including Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, Preaching Magazine, Christianity Today, the Washington Post, Moody Bible Institute and various radio interviews. He has spoken at colleges, seminaries, churches, ASIS, charitable events and the National Organization of Church Security & Safety Management.
	Brian Gallagher	Brian Gallagher is Director of Business Development at Decision Sciences International Corporation (DSIC), a security solutions company. In this role, Gallagher supports the company’s ongoing business development efforts domestically and abroad. Gallagher joins DSIC after serving almost 10 years with the U.S. Secret Service. For the last six years, he served as Senior Physical Security Specialist in the Technical Security Division and provided expertise and guidance on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) countermeasures and physical security; performed protective detail for our nation’s leaders and visiting world leaders; educated other security personnel; and made product and equipment purchasing recommendations. Gallagher has a thorough understanding of physical security regulations and an in-depth knowledge of security methods, procedures and use of surveillance systems and countermeasures for weapons of mass destruction. Prior to the Secret Service, he held a number of protective service roles for more than a decade including security management and emergency medical services. In his spare time, he is dedicated to community and volunteer work related to public safety. He holds a number of advanced training certifications such as paramedic, firefighter, hazardous materials specialist and weapons of mass destruction specialist. Gallagher received a bachelor’s in Homeland Security from American Military University and is currently pursuing a master’s in Professional Studies, Homeland Security - Information Security and Forensics, from Pennsylvania State University.
	Bob Klamser	Bob Klamser is the Executive Director ofCrisis Consulting International and co-founder, a non-profit organization that provides security and crisis management services to the missionary, humanitarian and NGO communities.  Crisis Consulting International conducts training seminars and consults with organizations on a wide variety of topics related to organizational and member security, especially in dangerous and hostile environments.  The organization also provides hands-on assistance during emergencies.  These services include hostage negotiations, evacuation management, response to extortion, risk assessments, site surveys, etc. Mr. Klamser retired from a twenty-three year law enforcement career in 1994.  During that career he held a wide range of responsibilities, including command of a criminal investigation unit, command of a hostage negotiation team and command of the operations section of a municipal government’s emergency operations center.  In addition to his responsibilities with Crisis Consulting International, he has served as the Missions Pastor and Administrator of a large Southern California church.  He also serves on the Professional Services Network of the Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies. Mr. Klamser has presented training seminars and conducted consultations involving literally hundreds of organizations throughout the world.  He has personally participated in hostage negotiations in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.  He has provided other crisis management and security services throughout the world.  Mr. Klamser earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in management and executive leadership.  He has published professional articles and has conducted pre-publication editorial review for two international security management books.  He is a frequent conference and workshop speaker and has appeared as an expert commentator and as a technical consultant on several major television networks.  He and his wife, a retired police officer, reside in Southern California.
	Greg Love	Greg Love - Attorneys at Law, is a partner at the law firm of Love & Norris, based in Fort Worth Texas, and a founder and director of MinistrySafe.  He earned a B.A. in Accounting from Texas Tech University in 1987, followed by a J.D. from Texas Tech School of Law where he served on the law review.  He is a member of the Texas State Bar, Tarrant County Bar Association, and a Fellow of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation.  His peers have repeatedly chosen him as one of Tarrant County’s “Top Attorneys”.  Mr. Love serves as a guest lecturer at Texas Wesleyan School of Law, Dallas Theological Seminary, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. MinistrySafe - In addition to an active law practice, Love and Norris are co-founders and Directors of MinistrySafe and Abuse Prevention Systems, entities dedicated to sexual abuse awareness and prevention.  MinistrySafe and Abuse Prevention Systems provide Sexual Abuse Awareness Training (live and online) and assist child care entities and organizations in the design and implementation of safety systems which reduce the risk of child sexual abuse.  Love and Norris are frequent speakers before educational entities, youth and children's ministries, day care, youth camps, and adoption and foster care organizations.  They have addressed national and regional audiences for organizations such as the National Association of Church Business Administrators ( NACBA ), National Council for Adoption (NCFA ), Young Life, Youth Ministry Institute ( NOBTS ), Kanakuk, the Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly, Church of the Nazarene, Prevent Child Abuse Texas, and Texas Alliance for Children and Families, and are featured writers for the upcoming NACBA resource entitled Professional Practices in Church Administration.
	Jimmy Meeks	Jimmy Meeks, Sheepdog Seminars for Churches Jimmy will speak on the scriptural validity of the need for Church Security and the calling he has felt to the church security ministry.  Jimmy has been a police officer since 1980. He is a licensed and ordained minister, certified school resource officer, police-training officer, hostage negotiator and a certified crime prevention specialist.
	Bob Wild	Bob Wild has been the Director of Finance and Administration and Risk Management for two mega churches over the past 20 years: Vineyard Christian Fellowship of North Phoenix and Christ's Church of the Valley, both located in the Phoenix area.  Bob has served on several boards including the local Phoenix NACBA chapter, CCV Youth Sports Inc., the largest nonprofit youth sports program in Arizona, Financial Planning Ministry and the Boys and Girls Club in Austin Texas among others.  Bob wrote and self published an instruction manual for church planters called:  Growing Your Church From The Ground Up: The Corporate Side. Bob has been published in Church Executive Magazine and more recently in Christianity Today and Group Publishing professional edition for their Children's Magazine.  In 2009 Bob joined the team at Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company as the Sr. Director-Strategic Alliances.  Bob holds degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters Degree in Business.

Church Security Training & Tips

Anthony Coppedge is a church technology consultant, speaker, and author with experience identifying strategies, building scalable systems and processes, and focusing efforts to stay true to the vision and DNA of an organization. He recently published an article on his blog featuring our friends Carl Chinn and Church Chadwick. I have included several of his points below, but encourage you to click on the link to view the full article.

From: Church Central Leadership Community

Church Safety & Security Tips

HIRING OFF DUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT
Many larger law enforcement agencies do not allow officers to serve as security volunteers when they are off-duty. However, extra-duty agreements are often an option with those agencies. There are often officers willing to serve from smaller jurisdictions in the region that do not have no-voluntary-service employment clauses.

VOLUNTEER SECURITY ROTATION
Try to organize volunteers into two teams – odd & even – each of which serves only on the Sundays with odd or even dates. This way you don’t burn out volunteers, and they are able to attend service with their family every other Sunday. A few times a year (on months with 5 Sundays) they need to work two weekends in a row

VIDEO CAMERA SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS
CCTV (surveillance) systems not only deter crime and capture incidents, but verify what didn’t happen as well as (critical in false accusation cases).

INTRUSION DETECTION
Intrusion detection systems can be integrated with automated lighting controls. For example – when a door is forced, window broken or motion sensors are activated at night, all exterior building lights and the parking lot lights can come on. Lights always on can be almost as vulnerable as lights never on. But lights that come on due to some action catch the attention of both perps and night-time patrolling officers.

FIRE ALARMS
Pre-alarm covers on pull stations prevent most nuisance fire alarms. In addition, you may check with your fire alarm system provider regarding PAS (Positive Alarm Sequence) programming. This allows operations staff 180 seconds to investigate any alarm before the horns go off. The fire department will require evidence of effective staff training on fire alarms, which is a mandated benefit.

LIABILITY DUE TO SEXUAL PREDATORS
If you knew or should have known that a person had the potential and / or history of harming children, you may be liable. Beyond that man-made legal mandate is the far more important God-given order to look after those little ones with sincerity. When it comes to sexual predators – you won’t recognize them when you see them. Develop recurring background investigations for all volunteers and all staff regardless of whether their position is related to children, youth or vulnerable adults because all staff and volunteers will be around them in some way at some time.

SecurityatChurch.com recommends IntelliCorp for background check screening. Use Promotional Code: SAC001when setting up an account. Click for IntelliCorp Website

VEHICLE THEFT
A car broken into in a church parking lot is a serious issue. Police should always be notified instantly, as these thieves often take information from the vehicle registration to determine the home of the owner – drawing a conclusion that the home will be unguarded then, or at the same time in future weeks. In some cases, they take the garage door opener and before the investigation is over at the parking lot, they are already in the home. As a precaution, vehicle registration and other owner address information should be kept in a secure place in the vehicle.

SECURITY PROGRAM LOCAL HELP
Don’t re-invent the entire wheel when developing a security program. Local ordinances often require Shelter in Place, Emergency Action or Security Plans for schools. Police school resource officers will often share relative school district programs when asked.

LOGGING ACCIDENTS
Keep an incident log of medical emergencies, and quickly pass on the names of any persons treated for medical issues to pastoral staff for prompt personal follow-up ministry.

DISCREET LIVE NOTIFICATIONS
The best eyes on the audience are those of the announcer, Senior Pastor or Song Leader (depending on the time of service). When and of these folks see something that may need the attention of security, they can point with a unique gesture (not a normal gesture for them). To anyone in the audience, it simply looks like a normal speaking hand gesture. To those in security, you will know where to focus attention.

OFFICE RECEPTIONIST ALERTS
You can train receptionists to make an announcement to equally trained staff responders over the intercom system of “Tom Smith, you have a call on line 1” any time a situation is making her uncomfortable at the front lobby. Choose any name that is not someone working for you – it is an announcement requesting assistance.

SecurityatChurch.com recommends ePainic Button as an easy an inexpensive solution to notifications during an emergency. Click for ePanic Button Website

SECURITY PERSONNEL IDENTIFICATION

There are two primary ways of security personnel identification – uniformed, or non-uniformed. Non-uniformed is preferred in almost all ministry environments. Should a significant incident develop, there will be a need for identification as first responders arrive – they must be able to distinguish between the good and bad human elements on scene. Badges are good, but in a high-adrenalin incident they won’t be seen. Following are some options;
Professional jackets that look like good usher jackets but have tactical pockets. In a security or emergency situation extra flaps are available out of the vest pocket and collar that identify SECURITY.
Undercover (non-uniformed) local, state and federal law enforcement agents have the same concern – other responding law enforcement to their scenes also may not recognize them as the “good side”. The most dangerous time for “blue on blue” shootings is after the assailant has been engaged or disabled and multiple responders are arriving on scene. A great resource (tool) is the DSM (don’t shoot me) pull-out banner available at www.DSMsafety.com.

CHILD CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT

Check-In -
Register child in system
Print 2 tags/stickers and affix to Child and Parent
Check child into room

Check-Out -
Match parent tag with child tag upon Exit.

Pretty Simple, Right? Not so fast. What if you have to evacuate in the middle of the service? How will you reconcile all of the children to their parents? Did you make a list/log of the children as they entered the room that you could take with you outside in an evacuation? (Check-In step 3)

Here’s a pretty cool addition to a sticker system I saw implemented at one of our church clients; Instead of printing just TWO stickers; print THREE. Use the third sticker to stick on a classroom Log Book. Initial beside each sticker as the child is matched with the parent at the classroom door for checkout. If there is an emergency, take the log book/sheets with you. This is a list of children in the room and a way to check them out after the evacuation.

RISK & VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS
Risk & Vulnerability Assessments are critical as a first step in developing any security program. Law enforcement and insurance agencies both perform them without charge. It is good to modify one (after the first one done by others) to repeat annually to record progress and make certain nothing has slipped.

Click for Full Article

Church Security Conference - Wyoming, MI

UPCOMING CHURCH SECURITY CONFERENCE

FEATURING SPEAKERS 

Chuck Chadwick and Carl Chinn

  

TOPICS includes:

Three Strands of Church Security by Chuck Chadwick

• The Threat
• Strand One - Team Players
• Strand Two - Systems and Tools
• Strand Three - Policies and Procedures

Carl Chinn will speak on the subject of ministry environment security and emergency response and his eye witness recount of New Life church shooting and Focus on the Family hostage incident.

Click here for more information...

WHEN: March 9, 2013

WHERE: Grand Rapids First

LOCATION: 2100 44th Street Southwest

Wyoming, MI 49519

COST: $50 until February 27th and $75 at the door

REGISTRATION: Link - COMING SOON!

SCHEDULE: 

• 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Breakfast (Included)
• 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. Session One
• 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch (Included)
• 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Session Two

ACCOMMODATIONS: Click here...

CONTACT: Sally or Kim (616) 531-2100 for questions.

NOCSSM - Armed Church Security Teams

The below letter is from Chuck Chadwick of The National Organization of Church Safety and Security Management. Chuck was asked to contribute to our series on Guns in Church. I am a little behind in posting this article, but still wanted it to be available here for you to read.


Armed Church Security Teams -
What is legal? Who is liable? Who is qualified?
By: Chuck Chadwick, NOCSSM

Dear Brian, Recently I was asked to contribute to a series of articles about Guns in churches by our friend Brian Gallagher of "SecurityatChurch.com".  Due to travel and time restrictions we were unable to respond, but we read all the responses from others. I think good points were made about the necessity of a security program and the need to have, what we call, "Intervention Capable" reactors/responders as part of a Security Team. From our contacts within thousands of churches we have seen the entire gambit of inventive solutions that churches have come up with.  Some mega-churches hire dozens of active local police officers to be present during services, both uniformed and plain clothes.  Some rely on off duty law enforcement congregation members.  Some rely on volunteer civilian "Concealed Carry" individuals. The main areas of concern are, First - what is legal in your state? Second - who's liable if something goes wrong, as in a shooting of innocent bystanders? Third - what should be the measure of who is qualified to be in this "Intervention Capable" (pronounced "Armed") role? What is legal? As pointed out in the various responses to Brian's request for opinions, each state may have different laws that dictate the legality of arming a Security team.  Texas requires a private security license while Colorado requires only a Concealed Handgun permit. Who is Liable? The first thing we think of when approaching this issue is "Insurance".  When active law enforcement or private security shoots someone, intentional or not, the majority of the liability will rest first on the local municipal government or the private security company's insurance.  With any other individual the liability will rest on the individual and the church that authorized the security team. Numerous insurance companies have dedicated entire web sites and resources to Church Security and Safety issues.  Understand that it is not in the interest of these insurers to promote "armed civilian security teams" as this increases the risk that they might have to pay a claim against the church. However, as much as they might resist, numerous insurers are "insuring" these civilian concealed carry permit teams as a part of their coverage.   Who's qualified? In the resources provided by the insurance companies there are only vague references to "Training", but no clear path to what is "adequate" for training. The typical course of police training in Texas consists of 576 hours of training in subjects ranging from fitness to firearms.  The typical course of private security training in Texas consists of 60 hours of training. The typical Conceal Handgun Permit requires only 8 hours of training.  Some states don't even require the individual to fire a handgun. Several years ago we saw the need for some type of training that would serve as a standard for church security teams that was both legal and acceptable to insurance companies.  After working with one particular insurance company for two years and investing thousands in research and development we were left high and dry by the company's management and threatened with law suits. That is when we retreated to our present platform which meets the Texas state private security requirements and abandoned any hope of working with any insurance company to promote a national standard. Conclusion /Opinion - Because of the challenges involved with developing a recognized national standard of "qualifications" we do not believe there is an easy answer for churches who want clear path to an acceptable program of qualifications and training needed for armed church security teams. All of our efforts have gone into adhering to each state's requirements for professional security licensing of individuals to perform armed commercial security work for churches.  This way we are leaving the training and certification standards to the state and not someone's opinion. About the author: Chuck Chadwick founded the National Organization for Church Security and Safety Management (NOCSSM) www.nocssm.org  in 2002.  He is also president of Gatekeepers Security Services (GSS) www.gatekeeperssecurity.com and the Christian Security Institute (CSI) www.christiansi.org.  GSS being a state licensed security services company and CSI a state licensed security training school.

Three Strands Church Security Conference

Information from: http://www.churchsecurityconference.com/

Church Security Conference
July 15-16,2011
Covenant Church,Carrollton, TX

Join America’s leading experts in Church Security for the best training available to Security Directors, Church Business Administrator, Church Leaders and Facility Directors.

An information-packed Conference, with proven strategies and techniques to improve your church’s security.

A different conference experience every year with the nations' leading experts in Church Security.


Speakers include

Director David Wood
Presentation Topic - Multi-site Mega-church security

With five campuses and approaching 10,00 in membership, Covenant Church represents one of the largest Mega-churches in America. David Wood has been at the helm of the ministry's security and safety efforts for the past 10 years. As Security Director of a large ministry, David deals daily with the complexities of a diverse, multicultural, multi-site mega-church. David will speak on the security efforts of such a ministry.


Major Carole Newell
Presentation Topic - Responding to the Mentally Ill

Major Newell has been with the Broken Arrow, OK Police Department for more than 25 years. In that time she has worked in nearly every facet of the department, and has spent considerable time in the Criminal Investigations Unit. She spent 14 years on the Crisis Negotiation Team, the last 7 as the Team Leader. She is currently the Headquarters Division Commander overseeing Criminal Investigations, Special Investigations, Property Room, and Training Units. During her career she has acquired extensive training and experience dealing with mental health issues, domestic violence, and sexual assault, and has also taught classes to law enforcement personnel. Carole also serves as the Department Head of Security at World Outreach Church in Tulsa, OK. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy as well as Rhema Bible Training Center.

Carl Chinn
Presentation Topics - Eye witness recount
- New Life church shooting
- Focus on the Family hostage incident

The 2007 shooting at New Life Church in Colorado Springs was one of the most significant attacks on Christian ministries in recent years. The gunman / hostage incident at the “Focus on the Family” headquarters in 1996 was another ministry incident of note. Chinn played a key role in the preincident emergency planning and was an initial responder in both incidents. Chinn will speak on plan development and shares inside recounts of these infamous incidents. Carl Chinn speaks on the subject of ministry environment security and emergency response.

Chuck Chadwick
Presentation Topics -
#1 - Security Teams and State Laws
#2 - Security Technologies

As former Director of Security for one of the largest and fastest growing churches in America; Chuck brings a “real world” perspective of dealing with the security concerns of the nation’s largest multi-site mega-churches. Chuck’s 29 years of security experience and his founding of The National Organization for Church Security and Safety Management (NOCSSM), helps him guide churches, both large and small, in addressing church specific security concerns. He has trained hundreds of churches across the nation in the basics as well as the highly advanced technical aspects of church security.As President of Gatekeepers Security Services, LLC, Chuck's companies provide security services to some of the nation's largest mega-churches.

Vic Meyer
Presentation Topic - - Killers of Innocence - True Story: When a sex molester hits your church.

Vic Meyer is board certified by ASIS International in security management and is the former Sr. Director of Security at Grace Church and Grace Christian School in Tulsa Oklahoma. From tragic experience he has learned that child molesters at church work tirelessly to gain our trust, gratitude and love to gain access to the very beat of our hearts, our children. Vic will arm you with the awareness and tools to keep them safe without impeding ministry.

Jeff Laster
Presentation Topic -The Incident at Wedgewood Baptist Church September 1999

On September 15, 1999, a gunman entered Wedgwood Baptist Church and opened fire with a 9mm, killing seven and wounding seven others. It was a Wednesday Evening and the church was hosting a “Saw You at the Pole Rally”. A worship service for the youth of the area to celebrate what God had done through their “See You at the Pole” events held at their school flag poles that morning. Jeff was the first one shot by the gunman as he greeted him at the door. Jeff will be sharing how this affected Wedgwood and the community, how it has changed us, and how it has given Wedgwood an opportunity to reach out to those affected by similar tragedies.

NACSSM

Chuck Chadwick runs an organization called The National Organization of Church Security and Safety Management, LLC. I encourage you to take some time to look over his website. Below if a clip from his site on the history of his organization.

http://www.nacssm.org/index.htm

"Chuck Chadwick founded Gatekeepers Alliance in January of 2002 as an informal meeting of Security/Facilities Directors from some of the largest churches in the DFW area. Meetings were held to discuss issues/challenges and it was found that regardless of location the issues/challenges were similar.

Chuck's home church (Fellowship Church, Grapevine, TX) grew from 6,000 TWA (Typical worship Attendance) to 22K and then from one location to multi-site. At the height of the organization Chuck directed and multi-jurisdictional task force of some 40 officers composed of Law Enforcement, Private Protection Officer, Security Guards and volunteers.

In 2005 Chuck left full time Church Security Director employment to dedicate his life to Gatekeepers Alliance teaching seminars and putting together “Best Practices” for churches around the nation. The first Church Security Conference was held at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano TX in 2005.

Chuck continues to direct the security operations of some of the largest churches in America through Gatekeepers Security Services, LLC. a Texas Corporation."