×

Faithful look to beef up security

Organist Carol McCracken of the Providence Presbyterian Church in Altoona concedes there’s a touch of “oxymoron” in religious congregations — whose existence is based largely on charity for all, including the downtrodden — setting up safeguards against the possibility of a lethal invasion by a societal misfit.

McCracken was one of about 130 representatives of religious organizations who attended a pair of “active shooter” training sessions Wednesday in Logan Township, conducted by an expert from the Department of Homeland Security.

“In this day and age, it’s necessary,” McCracken said. “It doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

McCracken is hardly alone in her thinking: during audience introductions, several attendees spoke of their membership in church security committees.

Bob Olson, a church council member at St. John the Evangelist in Lakemont, is adamant about the need for improvements in his parish, which until now hasn’t begun to think about security. He has no qualms about the concept.

“Christianity is not supposed to be passive,” Olson said. “To legitimately defend yourself is OK.”

He likened sensible security measures in houses of worship to a fire extinguisher.

“(You hope) you don’t have to use it,” he said. “But if you need it. …”

Most people who end up as “active shooters” have had a prior tendency for violence and mental health issues, said presenter Bob Winter of the DHS office in Pittsburgh. Most are set off by a “triggering event,” he said.

The propensity for violence may have manifested itself previously in domestic abuse or assault, he indicated. The mental health issues may have rendered them “unable to cope” with life challenges, he said.

And the triggering event might be something like a spouse leaving, a housing foreclosure, getting fired from a job or a parent’s death, he said.

People connected with religious congregations should not be “looking out of the corner of (their) eye” or behaving in a way that is tantamount to “paranoia,” he said. But they need to be aware, stay “attuned” and make an effort to put indicators of problems together.

Neither a propensity for violence by itself, mental health issues by themselves or a potential triggering incident by itself is definitive for creating an active shooter, but all three together can be, Winters said — citing the example of a professor in Alabama who created mayhem at a meeting after being fired by superiors who didn’t prepare for problems because they didn’t know her past well enough, he said.

“Mental mapping” on both the organizational and individual levels are key to prevention of misfortune and the reduction of harm when someone with bad intentions enters a place of worship, according to Winters.

It’s not enough just to create a plan — it’s necessary for the key members of an organization to practice it, he said.

Those key members include pastors, ushers, greeters, Sunday school teachers and, if applicable, sound engineers and security committee members, he said.

Plans need to take account of building characteristics like locks on doors and exit routes and necessary actions, depending on the potential characteristics of an active shooter incident in a particular place of worship, according to Winters.

Greeters are normally friendly and welcoming, but they should be on the lookout for people who seem out of place and who are acting in a way that suggests the possibility of intent to harm — say, by wearing a big coat on a hot day, refusing to make eye contact or spending lots of time in their car checking things out, Winters said.

There needs to be an understanding so that in those situations, greeters can communicate the need for others — say, ushers — to call authorities, even as the greeters maintain contact with the suspicious person, to help discourage an attack, Winters indicated.

Individuals, including regular members of the congregation, should rehearse the proper responses, physically if possible, then in their minds, so that if the time ever comes, they will have better chance to do what’s necessary, Winters said.

Generally, the preferred response in a shooting incident is to run away; and if that’s impossible, to hide; and if that’s not practical, to fight, according to Winters.

Attendees asked Winters about those attending church carrying concealed weapons to defend themselves against an active shooter. Before it becomes part of a plan, church officials should consult their organization’s lawyer and insurance agency, Winters said.

An Act 235 certification — awarded by the state on completion of lethal weapons training — can help reduce liability and ensure a better result but won’t totally shield an intervener or the organization from a lawsuit, especially if a stray bullet harms an innocent bystander, indicated Winters and Logan Township Police Sgt. Terry Walter.

Anyone who intervenes in an active shooting with a weapon should drop that weapon and hold their hands high with fingers spread apart when police arrive, Walter said.

The police are “going to come in hot,” and they won’t necessarily be able to distinguish between the interveners and the “bad guy,” he said.

If seen with their weapons, interveners can probably expect to be handcuffed initially, until police sort out what has happened, Walter added.

Olson left the session convinced of the need to share what he learned.

“I’m going to write a report,” he said. “We’re so far behind.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today