"This is just one more step that we can take to build that relationship and give church leadership some practical things that they can use to try to keep their congregation safe."
Led by Captain Jake Sparks of the Investigative Services Division, the training at the Harvest Bible Spring Lake Campus provides practical security strategies for attendees, from administrators to parishioners.
A primary focus is Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events.
"We often think of active shooter events or someone with a firearm, but it could be any act of violence. This presentation will take the general public through what they can do if they're ever in a situation of active violence."
The workshop also encourages organizations to evaluate their physical surroundings—such as lighting, landscaping, and window placement.
“We obviously don't want our churches or our schools to look like prisons, but there are simple steps that we can take to make our targets a little bit harder rather than having them be soft targets.”
Experts from the Prosecutor’s Office will address concealed pistol laws within a place of worship, and mandatory reporting responsibilities.
Upcoming training sessions are listed under resources on the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office website.
For a weekly dose of news right to your inbox, sign up for the WGVU newsletter.
