Resources from webinar on security in houses of worship

The Office of the Bishop organized an online presentation from the Phoenix Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office on security in houses of worship. We thank Tom Vega from Esperanza Lutheran Church in Phoenix for all his great work in making this possible.

We also thank FBI Special Agent Dan Johnson and Detective Bradley Calender of the Phoenix Police Department, as well as Lynsey Wright, FBI Phoenix Community Outreach Specialist.

Click here to view a recording of the webinar, and use this passcode: ^^8$%JXX

Contact info

Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center contact info:

• Dial 911 if an emergency

• Otherwise, call 602-644-5805, or visit azactic.gov.

• Detective Brad Calender #8537
  Phoenix Police Department / Homeland Defense Bureau
  Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center "ACTIC"
  Threat Mitigation Unit
  bradley.calender@phoenix.gov

FBI:

•  Special Agent Dan Johnson, FBI - Phoenix Field Office
  djohnson7@fbi.gov

• Lynsey Wright
  FBI Phoenix Community Outreach Specialist
  lrwright@fbi.gov | 623-466-1845

• A Study Of The Pre-Attack Behaviors Of Active Shooters In The United States Between 2000 And 2013: View online or as PDF

• InfraGard information

A few important takeaways

• All of the presenters encouraged us to contact them any time with questions.

• The FBI provides an important community service whereby they will come to your church and do a campus audit or “threat vulnerability assessment” to help decrease security risks at your facility. Contact Special Agent Dan Johnson to schedule.

• For anonymous tips and leads, contact azactic.gov.

• The odds of an attack on a house of worship is about the same as an airplane crash. While likely to never happen, it is still good to have a security plan, just as you’d pay attention to locations of exits and safety equipment in an airplane.

• The most common security issue in houses of worship is divorced fathers coming to get their children on Sunday morning.

• It is important to have a plan in place for these types of situations, and a team in place at your church to discuss matters of security and formulate action plans. The FBI and Phoenix Police Department are happy to assist you. Please make use of these valuable community resources!

Resources

Watch My Sheep - Establishing and Running Your Security Ministry: Author John Rolfe (jackrolfe.com) ISBN: 978-0-692-17095-3 (2018). A comprehensive book discusses security and protection for houses of worship. Contact the author for additional information and purchase.

Department of Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

• DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

• Guide for Developing Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship (view PDF)

• Safety for Faith-Based Events and Houses of Worship (view PDF)

• DHS Community Engagement, Outreach, and Training Resources

FEMA

• 5 Ways to Improve the Safety and Security of Your Place of Worship or Community Spaces

• Resources to Protect Your House of Worship

 Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA.gov)

• Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship

We also share Nevada and Utah's FBI Field Offices, and the respective State Fusion Centers.

• Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center (SNCTC)

• Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center (SNCTC) - LVMPD: The SNCTC is a 24/7 all crimes and all-hazards fusion center that responds to incidents within Clark County, Nevada. The fusion center is comprised of staff from 27 different agencies. www.lvmpd.com

• Nevada Threat Analysis Center (NTAC)

• Utah Statewide Information and Analysis Center (SIAC)

 Other resources

• Ready Illinois’s Faith-based Preparedness Guide

• Protecting Houses of Worship Event Resource Guide

• Safeguarding Houses of Worship

• Praise & Preparedness Initiative

Violence and criminal acts are a threat to all faith-based communities from persons who seek to spread fear and hate crimes, or the unexpected site of acts of domestic violence. The Grand Canyon Synod recognizes the importance of education and raising awareness of potential threats to religious facilities, or the groups who may use these buildings regardless of type or denomination.

The Phoenix Police Department, in partnership with the FBI Phoenix Field Office, presented a virtual faith-based online seminar to share resources and provide training, Detective Bradley Calender with the Phoenix Police Department and FBI Special Agent Dan Johnson presented.

Presenters

Special Agent Dan Johnson of the FBI - Phoenix Field Office
Dan Johnson is a special agent in the FBI assigned to investigate criminal civil rights violations throughout Arizona. Over the last eight years in Arizona Dan’s investigations have included hate crimes, color of law violations, FACE act violations, and international human rights violations.

Detective Brad Calender of the Phoenix Police Department's Homeland Defense Bureau
Detective Brad Calender is a 16-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department. Formerly working in the Patrol Division for six years, he now works as a Detective for the Homeland Defense Bureau assigned to the Threat Mitigation Unit. There, he serves as a Subject Matter Expert in Critical Infrastructure assessments and hardening. Before becoming a police officer, Detective Calender served in the United States Navy for eight years working in the Intelligence field. He then joined the Navy Reserve upon completing his active-duty enlistment and attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer before retiring in 2018 after 20 years of service. In addition to his current position, Detective Calender frequently teaches Human Intelligence and Interview and Interrogation methods for the Phoenix Police Department's Intelligence Officer certification program. Detective Calender graduated Summa Cum Laude from American Public University with his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is currently working towards his MBA at Arizona State University. Detective Calender has been awarded numerous times for his outstanding performance in the line of duty in service to his community.