Active Shooters In Houses Of Worship

This book is written by experienced staff at the G-Square International Training Academy in an effort to address the growing presence of active shooters in houses of worship. The content is intended to offer options and thoughtful guidance to the well over fifty thousand houses of worship of all denominations, beliefs, and sects that exist in the United States. It is also our belief that the content has a global value in addressing this menace. It is our fervent prayer that this publication will bring insight to leadership, members, and visitors who may be entrapped in an active shooter or other life-threatening situation while attending services or other activities in houses of worship. We hope to achieve this by discussing current best practices being developed to combat the active-shooter phenomenon, as well as presenting the best course of action to take when first responders and additional support arrive. This publication is not intended to be an exhaustive accounting of all available options. It is G-Square's God-inspired effort to present the reader with possibilities that can contribute to survival in the demon-inspired actions of an active shooter and other life-threatening events.

We live in troubled times - the rise in gun-related violence, particularly violence directed against churches and their congregations across the nation, is proof of this. There were 147 shootings in Christian churches between 2006 and 2016, more than there were in the entire 25 years that came before. It has become imperative that churches be prepared (and able) to protect those worshiping within their walls. Today, churches must be prepared to combat violence from all corners. It's not just about stopping lone-gunmen with their own agendas targeting church members, or anti-Christian sentiment bubbling over. Church members themselves and their loved ones can bring violence into the church. If you are not prepared, that can spell disaster, as it has for too many churches across the nation. To ensure that you are prepared for any eventuality and able to curb violent acts, we offer this book.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO WRITE AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SAFETY AND SECURITY PLAN FOR YOUR HOUSE OF WORSHIP OR PLACE OF BUSINESS Do you know what to do in case of an emergency? If a hate crime occurs in your house of worship, or a natural disaster hits it, or a deadly virus suddenly threatens your congregation, would you know what to do? This one-of-a-kind book gathers all the information you need to know to protect your congregation or business in one handy volume. Using easy-to-follow, non-technical language, it will prepare you to write, plan, and train colleagues within your congregation or organization to face whatever emergency presents itself with confidence. The information in this book applies to various faiths, houses of worship, and interfaith organizations, and its appeal extends beyond the walls of your house of worship by providing actionable guidance to: Anyone interested in the training, safety, and security fields First responders Government agencies Emergency management professionals Planning professionals Mental health professionals School administrators Our world is an unpredictable place, and you never know where the next threat might come from. But with the powerful information revealed in this book, you will be prepared for it when it does. LAUREN HOLLEY-ALLEN is a retired psychiatrist assistant and trained administrator with the State of Maryland. She has worked as state training officer for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and director of Education and Training for the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene. Mrs. Holley-Allen's career spans over thirty years of state service, in which she first joined as a master's-level psychologist in 1985. Additionally, she worked as a consultant for Glass Health Systems and Union Memorial Hospital. She developed and taught diversity Training for psychiatric interns who worked in emergency rooms with physically and emotionally challenged minority patients. She provided psychiatric consultation and training for area hospitals, nursing homes, and in special education schools with students and faculty. She lives in Towson, Maryland.

Stop the Killing offers insight into what each of us can do to end the active shooter crisis plaguing America. Written by the former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit, shares an insider look at what we’ve learned, and failed to learn, about protecting our businesses, houses of worship, and schools. The book demystifies the language around active shooters, mass killings, threat assessment teams, and more. Never gathered before into one place, readers gain access to evidence-based research and the most up-to-date information as they travel step-by-step through shooting prevention efforts and shooting aftermaths. Beginning with an understanding of how to spot potential shooters, readers learn the many ways to prevent shootings and the role threat assessment teams play. Threat assessment experts provide insight on what kind of information they need, and how they use it to intercept a person on a pathway to violence. The book guides readers through the process of assessing building security weaknesses and shows how to find vulnerabilities in people, programs, and policies. Packed with practical advice for training every age, from preschoolers, to elementary school children, to adults, the book also includes the author’s own teaching outline on how to train people to run, hide, fight. The book gathers together examples to help build individualized emergency operations plans and shows how to tap vast government resources to cover costs to your office and employees, districts and students, and survivors and victim’s families. Hear sober advice gathered from those who have survived and responded to shootings at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Aurora theater, Los Angeles International Airport, and more. Their common theme is that it can happen anywhere and has. All the more reason to accept that as each of us better understand what happens and how to prevent it, we can be the ones to stop the killing. The book also features a new preface exploring the 2021 school shooting tragedy in Michigan, especially the groundbreaking use of a domestic terrorism charge filed against the shooter and involuntary manslaughter charges filed against his parents.

Every house of worship in America faces a growing constant threat of violent attacks from terrorists, social fanatics, violent anti-religions, the mentally ill, drug-ravaged, and others who crave the social media and news fame of a mass killer. In the last twenty years, there was an average of two deadly force incidents (DFI) at houses of worship in America each week. No state, county, city, or house of worship of any religion is exempt from these threats. Violence, unrest, and criminal attacks are increasing nationwide with no penalty, accountability, or restrictions. Violent criminals are released into society with no controls. Churches of all denominations are seen as soft targets, and they must address these threats and take actions to protect those who come to worship. Retired FBI Superintendent Ed Mireles says, “This book is a highly recommended, must read, for all Church Security Personnel.” This book gives the reader an extremely valuable program of strategies and tactics that can be immediately applied to provide protections against these violent threats, to limit the number of threats that occur and minimize the effects of those that happen. With years of direct experience and multiple sessions of very high-quality training, the author faces these threats head-on and then moves directly to provide counter methods. Hard-hitting, direct, and fast-paced, The Swords of Nehemiah is the essential How to playbook for church protection strategies that have proven successful and can be immediately implemented and consistently improved and enhanced. Retired Professor of Criminal Justice Dr. Jeffrey P. Rush says it best, “This is the book every church, every security team needs. Read it, learn it, live it.”

Part of managing a facility or event of any kind is providing a safe experience for the patrons. Managers at all levels must educate themselves and prepare their organizations to confront potential threats ranging from terrorism and mass shootings to natural disasters and cybercrime. Security and Risk Assessment for Facility and Event Managers With HKPropel Access provides security frameworks that apply to all types of facilities and events, and it will help current and future facility and event managers plan for and respond to threats. The purpose of this text is to provide foundational security management knowledge to help managers safeguard facilities and events, whether they are mega sport events or local community gatherings. Presenting an overview of security principles and government policies, the text introduces an all-hazard approach to considering the types and severity of threats that could occur as well as the potential consequences, likelihood, and frequency of occurrence. Readers will be walked through a risk assessment framework that will help them plan for threats, develop countermeasures and response strategies, and implement training programs to prepare staff in case of an unfortunate occurrence. Security and Risk Assessment for Facility and Event Managers addresses traditional threats as well as evolving modern-day threats such as cybercrime, use of drones, and CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives) incidents. It also offers readers insightful information on the intricacies of managing security in a variety of spaces, including school and university multiuse facilities, stadiums and arenas, recreation and fitness facilities, hotels and casinos, religious institutions, and special events. Practical elements are incorporated into the text to help both students and professionals grasp real-world applications. Facility Spotlight sidebars feature examples of sport facilities that illustrate specific concepts. Case studies, application questions, and activities encourage readers to think critically about the content. Related online resources, available via HKPropel, include nearly 50 sample policies, plans, and checklists covering issues such as alcohol and fan conduct policies, risk management and evacuation plans, bomb threat checklists, and active shooter protocols. The forms are downloadable and may be customized to aid in planning for each facility and event. With proper planning and preparation, facility and event managers can prioritize the safety of their participants and spectators and mitigate potential threats. Security and Risk Assessment for Facility and Event Managers will be a critical component in establishing and implementing security protocols that help protect from terrorism, natural disasters, and other potential encounters. Higher education instructors! For maximum flexibility in meeting the needs of facility or event management courses, instructors may adopt individual chapters or sections of this book through the Human Kinetics custom ebook program. Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is not included with this ebook but may be purchased separately.

The proven safety tips and techniques for corporate executives, revised and updated The revised and updated second edition of Executive's Guide to Personal Security, 2nd Edition offers a strategic handbook for ensuring safety for executives, their employees, and their corporate assets. The book’s lessons outline the basic rules of personal security; it shows how to recognize and prepare for the real threats faced by executives and ordinary individuals in today’s often hostile world. It is filled with the necessary knowledge that can empower executives to face these threats and deal with them successfully. The methods outlined herein, formerly reserved for security professionals and government employees, are made available to the reader. Executive's Guide to Personal Security will teach you situational awareness which allows you to identify potential dangers before they become serious threats. You will learn how to analyze risks, prepare for emergencies, travel safely, and utilize counter-surveillance techniques to enable you to recognize if you are being followed or targeted. You will gain an understanding of the threats to both personal safety and corporate assets and understand how to implement the appropriate counter-measures to deal with those perceived threats. With Executive’s Guide to Personal Security, you can learn to take necessary actions to reduce your chances of becoming a target and discover how to make yourself less vulnerable. Written by two seasoned security experts, the lessons presented can be used by those in the business world as well as anyone who would like to feel more secure, including those traveling to foreign countries and individuals studying abroad. New to the second edition is: Information for responding to an active shooter incident Enhanced details for protecting IP and computers and smart phones Strategies for planning for emergencies at home and the office Approaches to safety that meet the challenges of today’s world Executive's Guide to Personal Security, 2nd Edition is the comprehensive book that contains information on physical security, principles of route selection, technical security systems, hostage situations, emergency planning, hotel and room selection, armored products, communications, bomb threats, evacuations, and local criminal hazards.

Using the authors many years of experience in emergency services and his skills as a hazardous materials consultant, prepares the first responder to handle everything from re-establishing control and on-scene triage to investigating the crime. Including information on pre-incident and avoidance tactics, the author also discusses monitoring and detection techniques, protective equipment and decontamination, and an extensive list of resource organizations and training opportunities. This up-to-date 3rd edition is written to provide concise information for emergency responders who might be called upon to confront explosive, chemical, nuclear, biological, or incendiary acts of terrorism.