SPECIAL BULLETIN

PROTECTING YOUR CHURCH

The burning of churches strikes at the very heart of a community.

Our churches have always served as places of sanctuary,
centers of the community, and symbols of our freedom.

Federal, state, and local public safety officials have joined together across the country in an effort to battle these heinous crimes. However, the protection of a church from arson begins with its members and the community. No longer can a congregation assume that "it will happen only to someone else."

The following steps can be undertaken to make a church
safer from fire and other crimes as well.

Protecting Your Church

  • Install perimeter floodlights around the building and utilize interior lighting as well.
  • Use motion-activated lighting near all doors and windows.
  • Keep shrubs and trees trimmed so the building can be easily seen from the road.
  • In rural settings, make sure crops are far enough away to allow proper visibility and lighting of the area.
  • Do not allow church signs to block the view of the building.
  • Install an adequately monitored or audible burglar and fire alarm system.
  • Basement doorways should be secured with locking ground-level doors.
  • Ladders, external stairways, and fire escapes allowing access to the roof should be secured (but not to prevent use from the interior in an emergency.)
  • Secure skylights, roof vents and steeples.
  • Use properly installed locks on all exterior doors. Doors should be solid core.
  • Windows that can be opened should have adequate locks. Secure sliding doors with a security device.
  • All exterior doors should have interior hinges and open outward.
  • Consider fencing areas that are not visible from the road.
  • Keep a current list of everyone that has access to the church and have the locks changed periodically.
  • Meet with neighbors and security personnel assigned to your neighborhood and ask them to keep an eye on your church.
  • Educate personnel on methods to deal with telephoned threats and develop a written protocol for threats and keep it posted.
  • Document any strange or threatening phone calls.
  • Develop an emergency exit plan and keep it posted.
  • On a rotating basis, have a member of the congregation who is at least 18 years old check on the church daily.
  • Remove all potential fire hazards from the church grounds, such as trash, brush, lawn clippings, etc.
    •


    Cautionary Notes

  • Be alert to any suspicious persons or activities around the church at any time and report it to law enforcement.
  • DO NOT allow watch persons to sleep inside of the church.
  • The carrying of firearms, nightsticks, mace or any type of weapon while participating in a church watch program should not be allowed.
  • DO NOT approach a suspicious person, attempt to apprehend someone, or otherwise place yourself in jeopardy.
  • If a suspicious situation is found, contact the nearest law enforcement agency immediately.
  • DO NOT pursue any vehicle or person. Obtain the license number and a description.
  • Remember, you do not have police powers and you are liable as an individual for civil and criminal charges should you exceed your authority.
  • The key is to OBSERVE and REPORT.
  • If possible, conduct the watch patrol in pairs.
  • Conduct watches in a random fashion.
  • Contact your local police department of sheriff's office for more frequent patrolling, if possible.
    •

    Any information concerning a fire may be reported to
    the Missouri Arson Hotline at
    800/39ARSON
    or to the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Hotline at
    800/ATF-FIRE


    Randy L. Cole, State Fire Marshal



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