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For decades, every church was that sacred place that could leave its doors open 24/7 and crime would be left at the doorstep. But times have changed, and so have churches and the criminal mentality toward them. These houses of worship have become a prime target.
In any given 10-day period throughout the year there will be dozens of crimes committed against Christian churches in the United States: crimes against property and crimes against persons. The exact number of crimes against houses of worship in the United States is a tough number to pin down. But raw data from the Justice Department shows tens of thousands of crimes occur on religious institution property every year.
Over the past two years that the Christian Security Network has tracked crimes against churches, it has documented dozens of violent incidents resulting in at least 20 homicides, almost 200 church arsons, hundreds of internal thefts, and thousands of property crimes resulting in more than $100 million in property losses.
If you as a police officer can convince the staffs of local churches that security measures are needed, and then help to implement them, you can make it that much more difficult for criminals to take advantage of these establishments. After your initial consultation with those in charge, you and your agency will save time and resources that would otherwise be spent on responding to, investigating, and solving these crimes.
So what can law enforcement do to make churches safer and more secure? Here are five things that will help.
Ensure the Church Understands the Extent of Its Risks
Most churches still operate under the assumption they did 30 years ago: that people, including criminals, view churches as sacred places to be respected. Those who work at these churches still feel that they can leave their doors unlocked at any time.
But what can now be found in churches makes them as appealing to criminals as any other target. Today, churches have valuables they never had in the past, from laptops to sound equipment to flat screen TVs. It is no longer just donations that need to be guarded. And unfortunately, more serious crimes including arson and violent attacks on individuals also occur on church property.
Yet in a 2008 survey of almost 4,000 churches, more than 75 percent stated that they did not have security or emergency plans in place. With more than 300,000 churches in the United States, that makes for a lot of potential victims.
When speaking with those who work at local religious institutions, citing crime statistics specifically related to churches and letting them know they are all potential targets will help them get over the "it can't happen here" mentality.[PAGEBREAK]Communicate That Implementing Security Fits with a Church's Mission
Talking to church administrators about crime and security is different than talking to those who work at convenience stores, gas stations, schools, and businesses. Some church congregations just do not believe in security or they don't understand how "security" may be implemented in a church setting. Of the churches in the 2008 survey mentioned, 22 percent of those that did not have security indicated that they do not believe security measures belong in a church.
Much of this has to do with the theological belief that God will protect them, and the accompanying belief that taking measures to protect God's house belies a mistrust in His ability to do so. Others believe that security will cause people to be afraid and make the church less open and inviting. I would contend that any church will still be welcoming if security is implemented correctly.
Security is about making people feel safe and secure. Shouldn't a house of worship be the one place above all where people should feel this way? If you can communicate this to churches in your area, they’ll be much more likely to agree to security measures.
Realize What You Say May Be Implemented Verbatim
Most church staffs and congregations have no clue about security and respect the police highly. Therefore, whatever law enforcement officers tell them, they may take literally, which could be a problem.
For example, a church in the Midwest developed and implemented an active shooter plan, which is unusual but not unheard of. When examined, the plan basically stated that if a gunman should ever enter the church, everyone should lie down and "play dead."
Now, a congregation of 600 people dropping down and "playing dead" may not exactly be the best plan for an active shooter situation. Apparently, in the course of discussing active shooter plans with church officials, a deputy from the local sheriff's department mentioned that in some cases "playing dead" has saved people’s lives. This statement is true, but the church took it to the extreme.
So be careful what you say when recommending security measures. Qualify statements about when to take certain actions to make them more clear if necessary. In addition to being potentially dangerous, some actions could cause a church greater liability and actually affect its insurance coverage.
Develop a Relationship with the Church
Familiarizing yourself with each local church's general hours of operation and scheduled activities could help your agency better respond to crimes committed there. Yes, church risks go beyond burglaries to include violent crimes; you may think it silly that many staff members or churchgoers may not even be aware of what to do or how to deal with these risks. But on the flip side, many police officers do not understand what churches in their areas do, other than conduct Sunday worship services. It’s useful for both sides to get to know one another.
Some churches have scheduled activities going on from 6 in the morning until 10 at night almost every day of the week. Many provide daycare, which may draw hundreds of children on any given weekday. Churches today also tend to hold special events such as youth Christian "rock concerts" that attract hundreds of people. These are all things local law enforcement needs to be aware of to know how best to respond to a call of an emergency or crime in progress.
Many churches do sit idle and empty during the week, but many do not. Establishing a relationship will help your agency effectively patrol the area around a church and respond to calls there.[PAGEBREAK]Offer Assistance and Review Plans
Most churches do not have plans to deal with emergencies such as medical assists, lost or missing children, alarm response, or violent incidents. Offering assistance in developing these plans emphasizes to the church both your agency’s desire to establish a relationship and the importance of certain security and emergency plans being in place.
As an added benefit, by having this dialogue you may find the church has some plans in place that may not be endorsed by your department and may actually violate state laws or local ordinances. Once you know this, you can advise a congregation how to adjust its plans accordingly.
For instance, many churches have formed "armed security teams," which are basically church members who have concealed carry permits (for those states that have concealed carry laws) and not much more training or experience. If a shooting incident should occur, having police officers enter a church where multiple civilians are pointing guns can be a bad situation.
Plus, many states or counties require certain licensing, training, and bonding once people in a private entity become "private security." Church administrators often don’t realize that even though they are on private property, laws regulating "security" personnel may apply to them.
Many church congregations are not aware that they may also utilize law enforcement assistance by hiring off-duty police officers as security for church services or special events. You may think everyone knows most officers work off-duty security details, but this concept is foreign to many churches. Once you inform them this is an option, many congregations may utilize this resource and successfully enhance their security. The more secure a church is, the better the chance of preventing a crime from happening there in the first place.
The problem of churches and crime is not going away. As the rest of society adopts better security measures, unless churches follow suit they will become an increasingly appealing opportunity for criminals of all kinds. Thirty years ago law enforcement had very few security concerns about churches, but as society changes, all houses of worship will face increasing threats and the need for greater law enforcement attention.
10 Days of Crimes Against Churches
As an example of what a 10-day period could bring for the church and police, consider some of these incidents that occurred within weeks of each other in the United States:
February 23, 2011—A church in Florida was going about its usual weekday business when a church custodian confronted a man he did not recognize. The subject pulled a knife and went after the custodian and pastor. Police were called and had to shoot the offender.
February 26, 2011—A woman working alone on a Saturday afternoon in a Georgia church was sexually assaulted and beaten.
March 4, 2011—A young pastor and his elderly assistant were working alone on a Friday in their Texas church when they were confronted by a robber who killed the pastor and brutally beat his assistant.
Along with these tragic crimes, another 51 occurred during the same time frame including burglaries, robberies, thefts (both internal and external), vandalism, vehicle break-ins, and acts of violence.
Jeffrey Hawkins works in management for American Military University in the Washtington DC area and is the former executive director of the Christian Security Network and chief security officer for a worldwide Christian ministry. He has been a law enforcement and security professional for 30 years.
