Protecting the faithful

March 14, 2017
Houses of worship and faith-based facilities are faced with security challenges as threats grow

Acts of violence and destruction are all too commonplace at houses of worship. In a single day in late February, 13 U.S. Jewish community centers received bomb threats – and they continue at other centers almost daily. Cemeteries in St. Louis and Philadelphia recently had hundreds of headstones toppled and damaged.

The continuing threats led to every U.S. senator signing a letter last week asking top Trump administration law enforcement officials to do more in response.

But attacks haven’t been limited to one faith. At least four Muslim mosques have been heavily damaged or destroyed by acts of arson in 2017. Vandals and burglars have also targeted numerous Christian churches. 

Historically, American houses of worship haven’t placed a great emphasis on security or crime prevention efforts. But that doesn’t mean they can, or should, ignore the challenges criminals present. Local, state and federal agencies now offer seminars and web-based information to help protect people and religious facilities. And many faith-based organizations are responding.

They are training their members to look for threats — even how to best protect themselves in the case of an active shooter. It’s not unwarranted. Statistics show twice as many people die in violent incidents on religious property than in school shootings.

After Columbine, Sandy Hook and other deadly attacks, schools began protecting their entries, keeping doors locked throughout the day. This is a very different approach for houses of worship and their members, who have long seen temples, mosques and churches as open, welcoming havens.

Taking a Proactive Approach

A week before Dylann Roof killed nine people in a Charleston, S.C. church in 2015; he told a friend he had planned to attack a local college. He said he changed his plans due to tight campus security measures. He targeted the church instead.

It took years of high-profile shootings before many school administrators acted to increase campus security. The same is true at houses of worship, says Sammy Joselewitz, president of Oakland, Calif.-based Highcom Security Services, which currently helps protect dozens of faith-based facilities in the San Francisco Bay area.

“Leadership at many houses of worship still tends to be in a reactive, not proactive, state of mind,” Joselewitz said. “They wait until something happens nearby or a major nationally reported event occurs.”

And, he says, when they do react they often do so impulsively with little regard for cost or overall security value. That can lead to a false sense of security and costly overspending. Before purchasing equipment, he recommends completing a thorough risk assessment by a qualified security professional experienced in securing houses of worship.

Joselewitz also suggests faith-based groups adopt a plan based on protecting entries with layers of security. The basics of this plan could fit virtually any house of worship.

Implementing Basic Safeguards

Joselewitz says protecting the entry begins at doors into the sanctuary, offices and classrooms of those institutions also operating a school. Doors need to be locked 24/7 — except for regular services and events. A solid core door with electronic locks serves as a major barrier to criminals.

Video intercoms can also be used to accommodate visitors. Intercoms use embedded cameras and microphones to send information to a master station in the facility office. There, a staff member can see the visitor and have a two-way conversation while sitting safely behind locked doors. A master station button opens the electronic locks allowing approved visitors to enter.

“If there’s any doubt about a visitor’s intentions, the door stays locked and first responders can be called to intervene,” Joselewitz says. “The intercoms can also record pictures of the visitor to be used in later investigations.”

According to Joselewitz, it is also wise to lock interior doors such as those to clergy offices, rooms where congregation donations are stored or where other valuable items or historical artifacts are kept. A strategically placed motion sensor can trigger an intercom inside the facility, alerting staff of movement around the building. Audio intercoms link the sanctuary, offices, multipurpose rooms and exterior areas such as courtyards and playgrounds.

“Intercoms can simultaneously share lock-in-place or evacuation instructions throughout the facility,” Joselewitz adds. 

A basic access control system enables employees and regular volunteers to enter a designated door using a card key or by entering their PIN into a reader outside the entry. Some video intercoms offer an optional card reader, eliminating the need for additional equipment.

Access systems have many advantages, among them is the ability to quickly delete and replace lost or stolen cards and PINs in seconds. Also, the systems provide an audit trail showing who has entered which doors and when.

Security cameras continue to become smaller and less expensive making them ideal for monitoring entries to the sanctuary, offices, clergy housing and education buildings. They are also ideal for monitoring parking lots and building perimeters. First responders can use the Internet to access digital video, providing them with a view of events as they respond to emergencies.

During those times doors must be kept open, such as regular services, weddings and funerals, Joselewitz recommends employing a security guard. A well-trained and experienced guard is not only a criminal deterrent, but can also spot potential trouble before it develops.

“By conveying a strong security presence with equipment and guards, a house of worship shows it won’t be an easy target – and that frequently sends criminals looking for another opportunity,” he said. “And when things go wrong, it’s best to leave the response in the hands of a highly-trained professional.”

Written security policies also are helpful. Joselewitz reinforced the importance that staff and volunteers need to understand the reason doors are kept locked. Regular drills help prepare the staff and congregants on how to respond to emergencies.

He also recommends a few other beneficial security layers for the facility. Emergency stations placed in large parking lots or around a school or daycare center can immediately contact first responders. Panic buttons, discretely placed throughout the facility and/or pendants worn by staff members, can do the same.

Fencing and lighting also act as a barrier and deterrent to criminals. Another deterrent is signage plainly announcing the church, temple or mosque is under video surveillance.

Security is a cost faith-based organizations would prefer to avoid. And turning the other cheek unfortunately is not the answer for protecting clergy, the congregation and valuable assets.

“These best security practices are no guarantee of stopping all criminals,” Joselewitz says, “but they will make the sites a much less desirable target for a hostile planner and allow houses of worship to continue their valuable missions.”

About the Author

Bruce Czerwinski serves as U.S. general sales manager for Aiphone Corp. He is a 13-year veteran of the company, a leading manufacturer of security video intercoms. For more information about Aiphone, please visit the website at www.aiphone.com/home.