COVENANT GRACE CHURCH

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SECURITY PROGRAM

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Annex A:

Emergency Action Plan

 

1.  Non-criminal hazards

a.  Fire/Natural Disaster (earthquake,etc.)

i.  Fire suppression by the use of a fire extinguisher should only be executed if the personal safety of the team member and/or congregants can be assured.Firefighting should be conducted by first responders who are equipped with the appropriate equipment and training to execute this activity.

ii.  The role of the security team, in case of fire or natural disaster, is to help facilitate the safe evacuation of the building.Team members will deploy to their primary areas of responsibility and serve in the function of keeping the egress routes open.Search and rescue within the building should be conducted by first responders who are equipped with the appropriate equipment and training to execute this activity.Toxic smoke inhalation can quickly lead to incapacitation.The “rescuer” can easily become the one needing to be rescued.Furthermore, the structural integrity of the building after a natural disaster will necessitate the response of qualified professionals who have the proper equipment and training for activity within this environment

b.  Medical emergencies

i.  Medical emergencies should be dealt with in accordance with the level of individual training held by each team member.First aid, CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) are not within the training protocols of the security team, however, individual training in these areas is highly recommended.Lifesaving activities (choking, massive bleeding, etc.) will necessitate immediate intervention, however, contact with first responders (911) is essential for a positive desired outcome.The security team should seek to keep order and calm while awaiting the arrival of first responders.

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2.  Civil Torts

a.  A “tort” is a private wrong or injury, other than breach of contract, for which the court will provide a remedy in the form of a legal action to recover “damages” (compensation for the loss).Every tort claim has three essential elements:

i.  One party has a legal duty to another

ii.  The party breaches that legal duty

iii.  The other party (or their property) is injured or damaged as a direct result.

b.  Torts include theft, fraud, trespass and defamation

c.  On motion, the Session determined to make it official security team policy not to detain and arrest for property crimes committed on the church property.Furthermore, on motion, the Session determined to make it official security team policy to decide whether to seek prosecution for property crimes on a case by case basis.

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3.  Criminal hazards

a.  Property crimes

i.  Criminal Trespass

1. The church property is used by Covenant Grace Church (tenant) under a lease agreement with Turning Point Church (landlord). All activity on the property within the scheduled time of use, are subject to the policies and procedures of Covenant Grace Church.Individuals who are not on the property for the purpose of congregational gathering are subject to trespass laws under Oregon Revised Statutes, Section 164.Security team members may engage individuals to ascertain their intent, however, consultation with the security team leader is mandatory to develop an effective plan to ask the individual to vacate the property.If the individual refuses to leave, the designated lead security team member will give clear verbal warning that the individual will be criminally trespassed if they continue to resist.Contact with law enforcement (911) will then be conducted.Unless the individual presents a clear and present threat to the peace and safety of the congregation, the security team will await the arrival of law enforcement to execute the trespass order

ii.  Burglary (second degree)

1. Burglary occurs when a person enters or remains unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime therein.

iii.  Theft

1.  Theft means with intent to deprive another of property, the person takes, appropriates, obtains or withholds such property from an owner.

iv.  Robbery (third degree)

1. Robbery occurs when a person in the course of committing or attempting to commit theft, uses or threatens the immediate use of physical force upon another with the intent of preventing or overcoming resistance to the taking of the property.

v.  Criminal mischief

1. Criminal mischief offenses usually involve damage to property.

vi.  Security team responsibilities

1. Security team members are NEVER to deal with these issues alone.

2. All activities by the security team members are to be in accordance with the prescribed training in De-escalation, Unarmed Security, Armed Security, Medical and Communications tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP’s).

3. All activities by the security team members are to be done in accordance with the pertinent provisions under Oregon Revised Statutes, Title 16

b.  Person Crimes

i.  Harassment, Assault, Intimidation and Disorderly Conduct

ii.  All activates by the security team members are to be in accordance with the prescribed training in De-escalation, Unarmed Security, Armed Security, Medical and Communications tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP’s).

iii.  All activities by the security team members are to be done in accordance with the pertinent provisions under Oregon Revised Statutes, Title 16

c.  Citizen’s arrest

i.  Arrest by private person (ORS 133.225)

1. A private person may arrest another person for any crime if the private person has probable cause to believe the arrested person committed the crime.Probable cause is defined at ORS 131.005(11) to mean “there is a substantial objective basis to believe that more likely than not an offense has been committed and a person to be arrested has committed it.”A private person making such an arrest shall, without unnecessary delay, take the arrested person before a magistrate or deliver the arrested person to a peace officer.Transporting the arrested individual to a “magistrate” is neither practical nor legally prudent.While the statute says you may “deliver” the arrested individual to a peace officer, this should not be interpreted to mean transport of the individual.Rather, you should seek first to gain the arrested individual’s consent to wait for responding police.If the individual tries to “escape” from your citizen’s arrest, you must determine if you reasonably believe it is necessary, before you use physical force to prevent the escape, in reliance upon the use of force statute pertinent to citizen’s arrests.

2. In order to make the arrest, a private person may use physical force as is justifiable under ORS 161.225 (Use of physical force by private person making citizen’s arrest)

3. Use of external restraints (handcuffs, etc.) shall only be deployed by security team members who have received prerequisite training from accredited professionals.