The church gathering
environment is unlike any other. It can be like a
school, a coffee house, a department store, a gymnasium,
a rock concert or all combined, all at once. With this
unique environment comes a host of threats which every
church needs to address.
Why a Security Consultant?
There comes a time when a
church has had enough crime, be it non-violent or
violent, directly related to the church when the
leadership of the church decides that something needs to
be done to address the Security of the church and it's
people.
Lets look a some of the
dynamics of making a choice.
Definition of Consultant
-
one who gives professional advice or services; an expert
Definition of Expert -
having, involving, or displaying special skill or
knowledge derived from training or experience
Who do people listen to?
There is a scripture that I like to reference where
Jesus is in his home town.
Luke 4:23-24
23 Jesus said to them,
"Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician,
heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have
heard that you did in Capernaum.' "
24 "I tell you the truth,"
he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his
hometown."
Another way to put this is
the common saying of; "Familiarity breeds contempt." or
"An expert is anyone who comes from more that fifty
miles away".
Finding qualified help can
be a daunting task, especially in the largely
unregulated area of "Security Consulting".
Church Security Consulting
Qualifications - "What to look for in a Church Security
Consultant."
(1) Security License -
Ask your perspective
consultant if they are licensed to perform the
assessment in your state. Do they hold any licenses in
any state?
Licensing is a good
indicator that they made met some sort of qualifications
for performing the assessment. Each state has different
laws, state bureaus, rules and statues which specify the
qualifications and requirements for such work.
Leading Example -
Texas is one state
that takes security as serious business; requiring
anyone who wishes to do work in the state as a "Security
Consultant" or "Security Contractor" to be licensed by
the Private Security Bureau.
Texas State Occupation Code
reference and definition:
OCC §1702.1045.
PRIVATE SECURITY CONSULTING COMPANY.
A person acts as a
private security consulting company for purposes of this
chapter if the person consults, advises, trains, or
specifies or recommends products, services, methods, or
procedures in the security or loss prevention industry;
Failure to comply lands a class "A" misdemeanor, with a
maximum fine of $10,000 and one year in jail. This
applies to both the consultant and the company/church
that hires them.
It's like
making your doctor or lawyer have a license to practice
their trade. They have proven their skill by passing the
required testing, training and experience. Simply
watching the Dr. Oz show doesn't qualify you for the
operating room. These requirements assure the public
that this person has the credentials to practice.
(2) Relevant Certifications -
Another principle consideration should be the
consultant's certifications. A Certified Protection
Specialist certification from a prestigious
institution like Executive Security International or a
Certified Protection Professional from ASIS are two of
well respected certifications.
The upcoming "Certified Church Security Specialist" from
the newly formed Christian Security Institute will
directly address the knowledge gap between "Secular"
and "Church" certification.
(3) Experience -
Relevant Experience in Church Security - A lengthy
career in law enforcement is an admirable life skill,
however, that might not qualify you to design and
operate access control and surveillance systems. Your
Church Security Consultant needs the technical expertise
to guide you through the more complex decisions of
security systems.
Real World Church Security Experience - While Security
Consultants abound, there are few that have practiced
the art of actually functioning as the Director of
Security of one of the nation’s largest Mega-Churches
(5K -20K people per weekend) and multi-campus
environments.
We believe that only through the actual experience of
performing in the roll of directing the security of a
large mega-church in “Prime Time” could you ever
envision the dynamics of how your security program
functions and how your security systems can give you the
upper hand in being proactive in deterring disruptions
in service and ensuring the safety of those entrusted to
your care.
(4) Scope of Technical Services
-
Can the
consultant show a portfolio of relevant successful
technical engagements?
What is the consultant "Consulting on"? Is it a campus
wide camera system or is it your church's total Security
Program? Is it a Risk Assessment, Systems assessment,
Security Program assessment?
A full Security Program assessment looks at all the
facets of the "Three Strands of Church Security"
TM.
Starting with the base strand of Policies and
Procedures, progressing to the second strand of
Human Resources/Team Players, to carry out the
Polices and Procedures and ending with the third strand
of Systems and Tools, like video surveillance and
radios, to make the team more effective and efficient.
We hope this article gives the information for churches
to make good choices when engaging a Church security
consultant.
Gatekeepers Security Services, LLC
- is one company to
offer a church a high degree of all choice factors
identified above. * Licensed * Certified * Real World
Church Experience *
For more information contact:
info@gatekeeperssecurity.com
or visit
http://www.gatekeeperssecurity.com
Church Security Teams Legally Licensed through
Gatekeepers Security
Through an
exclusive arrangement with Gatekeepers Security
Services, LLC, a licensed Texas security company,
several Texas churches are officially meeting the state
requirements for volunteer armed plain-clothed security
officers in their churches.
Gatekeepers
Security Services, LLC provides churches throughout
Texas with private security services. In fact, Churches
are their only business. Chuck Chadwick, President of
Gatekeepers has found a unique solution to the high cost
of traditional armed security personnel.
"There is a
great deal of misinformation out there when it comes to
using a person's Texas Concealed Handgun License (CHL)
to be part of an armed security team." Says Chuck
Chadwick, President of Gatekeepers.
The Texas
Department of Public Safety - Private Security Bureau as
ruled specifically on this issue at our request. The
actual ruling/opinion can be found at:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/psb_opin_sum.htm under
Church Volunteer Security Patrol
Specifically:
Church Volunteer Security Patrol May
10, 2007
A volunteer security patrol made up of church members
would generally require licensing under the provisions
of Section 1702.108 or 1702.222, regardless of whether
any compensation is received as a result of the
activities. The only exception to licensing provided by
the legislature for nonprofit and civic organizations is
found in Section 1702.327, which applies specifically to
nonprofit and civic organizations that employ peace
officers under certain circumstances and would not be
applicable here.
However, there is one exception to licensing under
Chapter 1702 provided by the legislature that could
arguably apply, which can be found in section 1702.323
("Security Department of Private Business"). This
exception would allow volunteers to provide security
services exclusively for one church, as long
as they do not carry firearms and as long as they do
not wear "a uniform with any type of badge commonly
associated with security personnel or law enforcement or
a patch or apparel with 'security' on the patch or
apparel." See TEX. OCC. CODE §1702.323(a) &
(d)(2). Thus, the wearing of a uniform or any apparel
containing the word "security" would subject them to the
licensing requirements of the act.
The ONLY way
to carry a firearm as a part of a concerted security
effort in Texas is to be either an Active Law
Enforcement officer or a licensed Texas Department of
Public Safety - Private Commissioned Security Officer or
a Personal Protection Officer working under contract to
the church by a Registered, Licensed and Insured
Security Services company. To do so without the required
licensing, coverage and contract constitutes a class "A"
misdemeanor punishable by $10,000 fine and a year in
state prison.
"Our program
meets and exceeds the state laws pertaining to Private
Security. The program was designed to save the churches
roughly two thirds of the cost of hiring traditional
private security or law enforcement." Says Chadwick.
"When it come to guys with guns, there is no free lunch.
A church has to come to grips with this issue."
We are also in
talks with churches South Carolina and Oklahoma about
the program expansion.
For further program details and how your church can get
"Legal" contact Chuck Chadwick @ (972) 712-8818 or email
chuck@gatekeeperssecurity.com.
