The Texarkana, Texas, Police Department is offering a two-hour course on church security at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in wake of the deadly shootings in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
The course will be held at the Special Operations and Training Center, 1420 South Park Road. It is free and open to any church in the region.
The topics will include:
- Understanding the role and function of a church safety team
- Guidance on organizing and developing a church safety team
- Response to an active shooter and other threats
- How to organize and position security personnel
- Verbal and nonverbal communication from the pulpit
"We are pleased to be able to offer this service to our community's churches. While none of us want to think that something like the horrific events that we saw in Sutherland Springs earlier this week would ever happen here, we must all be prepared nonetheless," Police Chief Dan Shiner said.
"I encourage every church in the area to bring a group to hear this very important information. We can accommodate about 125 people in each of the classes, so we have plenty of room," Shiner said.
Upon completing the course, participants may request a complimentary on-site security vulnerability assessment of their church facilities.
Two more courses are planned in the coming weeks to accommodate those who are unable to attend the Nov.16 class.
To register, call Officer Matt Cashatt at 903-798-3356 or email [email protected].