COVENANT GRACE CHURCH

 

SECURITY PROGRAM

 

Policies and Procedures Manual

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Version 1.0

(Session approval 9-23-24)

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

1.  PURPOSE

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2.  METHOD

 

3.  END STATE

 

4.  AUTHORITY

 

5.  SECURITY TEAM

 

6.  TRAINING

 

7.  TEAM COMPOSITION

 

8.  TEAM DUTIES

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9.  EQUIPMENT

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10.  DRESS CODE

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ANNEXES

 

A.  EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN

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B.  MEDICAL TRAINING

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C.  DPSST FIREARM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

  

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1.  PURPOSE:  The purpose of the Covenant Grace Church (CGC) security program is threefold:

A.  To provide a secure place of worship where members and visitors may comfortably worship with the assurance that all reasonable measures are being taken to insure their safety from internal and external threats.

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B.  To provide a safe place of worship where hazards and unsafe conditions are identified and mitigated to the point that they no longer present a hazard.

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C.  To develop, maintain, and continuously update a comprehensive Emergency Action Plan (see Annex A) that outlines the process by which CGC will respond to threatening conditions or situations.

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2.  METHOD:  The method by which CGC will accomplish this program is to establish and maintain a security team with two functional areas:

A.  Prevention​

1.  Prevention is comprised of all operations intended to reduce or eliminate risks and hazards before they occur such as safety inspections, entry point surveillance and screening, activities within the church building/parking lot, safety education and training.

B.  Response

1. Response is comprised of all operations taken before and after an event or situation to mitigate effects and recover from the event.The security team will operate under the direction of the security team leader and under the authority of the CGC Session.

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3.  END STATE:  The desired end state for this program is that CGC is secure from internal/external threats and unsafe physical conditions, has a trained team established and performing duties with minimal negative impact on CGC activities, a published Emergency Action Plan that is approved by the Session, and internal review procedures established to insure continuous evaluation and refining of the program to meet the most likely hazards and threats.

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4.  AUTHORITY:  The CGC security program derives its authority from the approval and oversight of the CGC Session in accordance with all pertinent Oregon statues including, ORS 215.44 USE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR RELIGIOUS ACTIVATES and all provisions under ORS Title 16 CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS.

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5.  SECURITY TEAM

            A.  Oversight

                        1.  The security program shall be formed upon approval of CGC Session and recorded in the church minutes.

                        2.  Day to day operations will be under the supervision of the CGC security team leader in consultation with a CGC Session liaison.

                        3.  CGC Session will perform monthly and annual review of the security program. 

        

            B.  Personnel

                        1.  All security personnel shall be subject to a law enforcement background check.

                        2. All security personnel shall be twenty-one years of age or older.

                        3. All security personnel shall be formal members, in good standing, of the church.

                        4. Security personnel may be relieved of duty at any time, with or without reason, by the security team leader with prior CGC Session approval when practicable.

                        5.  All security personnel performing duties in an armed capacity must possess a Concealed Handgun License in accordance with ORS 166.291

                        6.  Any member of the security program may resign his/her position at any time either verbally or in writing to the team leader/Session.

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6.  TRAINING

            A.  The purpose of the security program training requirements is to:

                        1.  Ensure that security personnel have the skills and knowledge needed to maintain a safe environment for themselves, as well as church members and visitors.

                        2.  Ensure compliance with state law.     

                        3.  Ensure proficiency and efficiency in duty-related skills.

                        4.  Ensure a fast and effective response to emergencies on church property in an effort to preserve life and safeguard property.

                        5.  Reduce liability for security personnel and the church as a whole.

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            B.  Training Tenets

                        1.  First and foremost, all training will remain focused on the fact that the security team is protecting God’s covenant people who are to be given all due respect and reverence.

                        2.  Whenever possible, members shall train together to build cohesion, standardize knowledge and skills, and improve efficiency.

                        3.  Training shall be progressively challenging to aid in skill development and increased knowledge.

                        4.  Training shall be practical and applicable to members’ duties.

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            C.  Initial Training

                        1.  All security personnel are required to successfully complete an approved concealed handgun training course from an authorized instructor prior to being approved for duty in an armed capacity.

                        2.  All security personnel are required to successfully complete a mandatory training session with regards to the fundamentals of armed/unarmed techniques and the application of the approved Security Procedures manual and Emergency Action Plan.

                        3.  All security personnel are required to successfully complete medical training that includes the deployment and use of the issued Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK).  (See Annex B)

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            D.  Annual Continuation Training

1.  Tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP’s) are perishable skills that require regular refreshment.  The knowledge and skills necessary to operate effectively as a security team member are varied. 

                        a.  De-escalation.  De-escalation training involves day to day human interaction.  Trainees are encouraged to view others as people first and a potential threat second.  Emphasis is placed on situational awareness, communication techniques, problem solving and personal emotional management. 

                        b.  Unarmed Security.  Unarmed security training involves the necessity to deal with a situation that has progressed beyond de-escalation and requires the use of non-lethal TTP’s to gain control and manage an acceptable outcome that fulfills the purpose of the security program.

                        c.  Armed Security.  Armed security training involves the necessity to move beyond the thresholds of de-escalation/unarmed security and deal with a threat that clearly has met the conditions of ORS Title 16 requiring the use of deadly force to save the life of the security team member or others.  This action is, by definition, a last resort conclusion to a grave situation that requires extreme self-control and precision of thought and action.  Personnel performing armed security duties will qualify annually with the weapon(s) they carry during the performance of their duties.  All security personnel are required to meet the standards contained in the Oregon State Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Armed Security Professional curriculum.  (See Annex C)        

                        d.  Medical.  Medical training involves the deployment and use of an IFAK when utilizing the M.A.R.C.H. acronym to assess and administer necessary medical aid.  (See Annex B)

                        e.  Communications.  Communications training involves using the TTP’s necessary to effectively communicate within the team during routine duties as well as during an emergency event. This training covers the proper use of verbal and radio communication to help facilitate an orderly execution of duties.  This training also covers the secondary tier of outside communication with first responders.

           

2.  Training Cadre.

a.  All training will be conducted by subject matter experts.  Training will be conducted both in-house and off sight, depending on the nature and requirements of the subject. 

                       

3.  Unarmed and Armed Security training shall be in accordance with Oregon State Department of Public Safety Standards (DPSST) curriculum. 

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4.  All training will be documented and maintained as a matter of church record

 

7.  TEAM COMPOSITION

            A.  The security team will be led and supervised by the security team leader.

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            B.  Additional membership will be comprised of church members and augmented, on a case-by-case, impermanent, short-term basis, by qualified personnel.

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            C. Team members will perform their assigned duties on a weekly basis.  Front door duty (Point) will be performed on a scheduled weekly rotational basis.

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            D.  During special events, the team will be configured as required for the event.

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8.  TEAM DUTIES

            A.  Team Leader

1. Establish and maintain the Security Procedures manual and Emergency Action Plan.

2. Supervise security team personnel

3. Insure compliance with this policy manual, state law, and applicable safety guidelines.

4. Manage security program training for staff, team members, and congregation​

5. Serve as the security advisor to the CGC Session

6. Forecast funding and equipment requirements and coordinate for those resources through the CGC Session.

7. Coordinate with outside resource personnel for training, threat awareness, safety, and information pertaining to the security program.

8. Represent the security program during church meetings and to the general membership.

9. Conduct monthly performance evaluations.

10. Coordinate manpower requirements, solicit volunteers and schedule security team members for each service.

11. Delegate individual duties while maintaining overall responsibility.

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            B.  Team Members

1.  Arrive before the service begins and allow adequate time to prepare for the execution of individual/team duties.

2.  Exercise a heightened and focused attention to all activities in and around the church building.Special attention should be given to any item/s that seems to be out of place or outside of normal weekly condition.

3.  Give attention to who is arriving at the building and what vehicle they

are arriving in.

4.  Communicate with team leadership any anomies that may need special attention.

5.  Greet new or unknown people in a warm and welcoming manner while,

at the same time, be inquisitive so as to passively vet all people who are entering the building.

6.  Be aware, at all times, of the location of other team members who may

be called upon to assist or may need assistance.

7.  Stay after the service to help facilitate the safe departure of congregants

8.  Maintain a level of proficiency in commensurate skills.

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9.  EQUIPMENT

            A.  Firearms.  Approved security team members must carry a personally owned,

concealed handgun of choice that meets the following requirements:

1.  Minimum caliber of semi-automatic pistols will be 9mm.

2.  Firearms should be from a reputable manufacture with an acceptable safety and dependability record.

3.  Capable of being carried concealed.

4.  Accompanied with at least one spare loaded magazine carried in an appropriate concealed manner.  

5.  Handguns will be carried in a holster whose design is at the discretion of the wearer in order to conform to his or her individual preference and comfort.   The holster will be capable of retaining the handgun unless deliberately drawn by the user.  Kydex type or leather construction only (no neoprene).

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B.  Ammunition.  Authorized personnel will carry ammunition designed for defensive use, of a soft point or hollow point design, and should be original commercial manufacture (no reloads).

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C.  Communications Equipment

1.  Each team member will be equipped with a handheld radio capable of allowing immediate and open communications throughout the church property.

2.  Radios are to be turned off until it is tactically safe to turn them on.Radio traffic will be restricted to monitoring for direction by team leadership and/or relaying vital information that directly helps the mission execution of the security team.

3.  Team members should maintain cell phones as a back-up means of communication within the group and for emergency calls for assistance.

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10.  DRESS CODE

            A.  All members will dress in attire appropriate for duties as a security team member and consistent with church guidelines for volunteer staff.

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            B.  Members will dress in a manner that maintains total concealment of handguns at all times.