Carol Bowers - Administrative Assistant

1. ACTIVE SHOOTER - THREAT RESPONSE

Scenario 1A: Armed Individual in Main Lobby – Sunday Service

SITUATION:

During a packed Sunday morning worship service, a security volunteer at the rear of the sanctuary notices a man enter the main lobby wearing a heavy coat and carrying what appears to be a firearm. He is moving erratically and shouting.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Identify the fastest and safest lockdown trigger protocol

■ Demonstrate evacuation route communication to ushers and staff

■ Practice Run-Hide-Fight decision-making for congregants in the sanctuary

■ Coordinate radio communication with law enforcement dispatch

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   Who has authority to initiate lockdown and how is it communicated?

2.   How do you handle congregants who freeze or refuse to move?

3.   What is the role of security vs. church staff during active threat?

4.   When is it appropriate to engage vs. evacuate?

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Scenario 1B: Threat During School Assembly – Armed Individual on Campus

SITUATION:

During a school-wide assembly in the gymnasium, a staff member receives a frantic text from a teacher: 'There is a man with a gun near the east wing hallway.' The gym is full of 300+ students and staff.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Execute a lockdown announcement without causing mass panic

■ Secure students in place vs. initiating a staged evacuation

■ Identify rally points and parent reunification procedures

■ Brief first responders at a safe perimeter upon arrival

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   How do you communicate a lockdown to staff without alerting the threat?

2.   What considerations exist for students with special needs during lockdown?

3.   How does the principal coordinate with security and 911 simultaneously?

4.   What post-incident steps must happen before students are released?

2. DISRUPTIVE INDIVIDUAL/DE-ESCALATION

Scenario 2A: Disgruntled Former Member in the Foyer

SITUATION:

A former church member who was removed from leadership six months ago appears at the main entrance, visibly agitated, raising his voice at a greeter and demanding to speak with the pastor. He is not armed but is physically imposing and drawing attention.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Apply verbal de-escalation techniques (tone, empathy, redirection)

■ Position security personnel without provoking further escalation

■ Determine thresholds for escorted removal vs. law enforcement call

■ Protect bystanders and staff in the immediate area

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   What verbal and non-verbal cues indicate a situation is escalating?

2.   How do you engage someone who feels wronged by your organization?

3.   Who speaks — security, pastor, or administrator?

4.   At what point does de-escalation end and removal begin?

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Scenario 2B: Angry Parent at the School Office

SITUATION:

A parent storms into the school office, slams documents on the counter, and begins screaming at the receptionist about a disciplinary incident involving their child. Other parents with small children are present in the waiting area.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Safely remove the confrontation from the public waiting area

■ Protect staff behind the front desk

■ Use active listening and controlled language to calm the parent

■ Document the incident for administrative and legal follow-up

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   How do you protect front-desk staff while still engaging the parent?

2.   Should you involve the principal immediately or attempt de-escalation first?

3.   How do you manage the other witnesses and children in the waiting area?

4.   What records should be created after the incident is resolved?

3. CHILD CUSTODY/UNAUTHORIZED PICKUP

Scenario 3A: Non-Custodial Parent at School Dismissal

SITUATION:

At afternoon dismissal, a man approaches the pickup line identifying himself as a student's father. The student's file contains a court order restricting this parent from pickup. The parents become argumentative when the teacher questions him.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Enforce custody documentation protocols without escalating the situation

■ Safely delay the unauthorized individual while contacting the custodial parent

■ Initiate a soft lockout to prevent the child from being taken

■ Coordinate with law enforcement if the individual refuses to leave

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   Who is authorized to view and act on custody documentation?

2.   How do you keep the child calm and unaware of the tension?

3.   What do you do if the individual attempts to physically take the child?

4.   How do you handle a situation where the court order is verbal and unverified?

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Scenario 3B: Missing Child During Busy Church Event

SITUATION:

During a large holiday church event with 400+ attendees, a panicked mother reports her 5-year-old daughter has not returned from the restroom. It was 15 minutes. Exits are still open and the crowd is large.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Activate a rapid internal search protocol without alarming the crowd

■ Assign roles: searchers, exit monitors, parent liaison, 911 contact

■ Implement a code word announcement system for child recovery

■ Establish a command post and document search progress

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   At what point do you lockdown exits vs. conducting an internal search?

2.   How do you manage a frantic parent while maintaining operational focus?

3.   What information do you need to provide for law enforcement?

4.   What systems could prevent this type of incident in the future?

4. SUSPICIOUS BAG/PACKAGE/BACKPACK

Scenario 4A: Unattended Backpack in the Church Sanctuary

SITUATION:

After a Sunday service, a custodian discovers an unattended backpack under a pew near the front of the sanctuary. No one claims it. It has wires visible through a partially open zipper.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Initiate a safe perimeter around the object without touching or moving it

■ Clear the sanctuary calmly and prevent re-entry

■ Contact law enforcement and relay accurate location and description

■ Establish a command post at a safe distance outside the building

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   What is the minimum safe distance for a suspicious package perimeter?

2.   How do you prevent curious bystanders from approaching?

3.   What information must you have ready for the bomb squad upon arrival?

4.   When can the building be re-entered after law enforcement clears it?

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Scenario 4B: Unattended Bag Near the School Playground

SITUATION:

A teacher on recess duty notices a duffel bag against the fence near the playground that does not belong to any student. Students are actively playing nearby. The bag appears heavy and is partially covered with a tarp.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Immediately redirect students away from the area without causing panic

■ Notify administration and initiate lockout of the playground zone

■ Contact local law enforcement with a description and GPS location

■ Document witness observations (who placed it, when it was noticed)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   What words do you use to move students without causing alarm?

2.   How do you prevent teachers from approaching out of curiosity?

3.   Who coordinates with parents if an evacuation is required midday?

4.   How do you resume normal school operations after the all-clear?

5. MEDICAL EMERGENCY/MASS TRAUMA

Scenario 5A: Cardiac Arrest During Sunday Service

SITUATION:

During the offertory, an elderly man collapses in the third row of the sanctuary. A nearby usher shouts that the man is unresponsive and not breathing. There are 600 people present. The nearest AED is in the lobby hallway.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Initiate CPR within 2 minutes of collapse

■ Assign a person to retrieve the AED and guide EMS to the location

■ Manage crowd control to provide responders with space

■ Document the incident timeline for EMS handoff

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   Who takes charge — security, usher, nurse in congregation, or pastor?

2.   How do you clear space without creating panic?

3.   What information does EMS need when they arrive?

4.   What are the legal and emotional considerations for the team after the event?

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Scenario 5B: Traumatic Playground Injury

SITUATION:

A 3rd grade student falls from the monkey bars, landing on their arm. The arm is visibly deformed and there is bleeding from a head laceration. The student is conscious but in shock. Other students are watching.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Apply Stop the Bleed techniques to control head laceration

■ Immobilize the injured arm without attempting to realign

■ Dispatch a staff member to the entrance to guide EMS

■ Separate other students from the scene and notify parents

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   What should you NOT do while waiting for EMS? (e.g., move the student)

2.   How do you manage the emotional needs of the injured child?

3.   How do you handle other students who are visibly distressed?

4.   Who notifies parents, and what information is shared?

6. PERIMETER BREACH/UNAUTHORIZED INTRUDER

Scenario 6A: Intruder Bypasses Security During School Hours

SITUATION:

A school security camera feed shows an unknown adult male entering through a propped side door near the gymnasium. He is not wearing a visitor badge and appears to be moving toward the classroom wing.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Initiate a campus-wide alert using intercom or radio protocol

■ Identify, intercept, and challenge the individual at a safe distance

■ Lock down classrooms in the path of the intruder

■ Guide law enforcement to the last known location of the individual

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   How do you challenge an unknown individual without escalating the situation?

2.   What if the individual claims to be a parent or contractor?

3.   How do teachers respond when they receive a lockdown signal mid-class?

4.   What camera or communication gaps allowed this breach?

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Scenario 6B: Wandering Individual Near Sunday School Wing

SITUATION:

A Sunday school teacher reports seeing an unfamiliar adult loitering in the hallway near the children's classrooms. The individual does not have a check-in tag and becomes evasive when asked who they are visiting.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Approach and identify the individual using a two-person contact method

■ Prevent the individual from accessing any classroom

■ Initiate a soft lockout of the children's wing

■ Escort or remove the individual from the secure area

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   Why is a two-person contact method safer than a single approach?

2.   How do you prevent the individual from sensing they are being isolated?

3.   When do you involve police vs. handling this internally?

4.   What system failures allowed this person to reach the children's wing undetected?

7. THREATENING COMMUNICATION/SOCIAL MEDIA INCIDENT

Scenario 7A: Threatening Phone Call Received by Church Staff

SITUATION:

The church receptionist receives a phone call from an unidentified male stating: 'You'll regret what happened to me. Something is going to happen this Sunday.' The call disconnects before the receptionist can respond.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Preserve all call details: time, caller ID, exact wording, voice description

■ Notify church leadership and security coordinator immediately

■ Contact local law enforcement and file a formal report

■ Assess threat credibility and decide whether to alter Sunday operations

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   What information should a receptionist capture during a threatening call?

2.   Who decides if Sunday services are cancelled or modified?

3.   How do you notify staff without creating widespread panic?

4.   What follow-up steps should be taken if no caller is identified?

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Scenario 7B: Online Student Threat Discovered by a Teacher

SITUATION:

A teacher discovers a social media post by a current student that reads: 'Tomorrow will be the last day anyone at this school messes with me.' The post has a photo of a firearm and has been shared by several students.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Screenshot and preserve the post with timestamps before reporting

■ Notify school administration and security immediately

■ Contact law enforcement and forward digital evidence

■ Locate and isolate the student pending investigation

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   How do you preserve digital evidence without alerting the student?

2.   At what point is law enforcement notification mandatory?

3.   How do you communicate with parents of the student who posted the threat?

4.   What threat assessment process does your school have in place?

8. FIRE/ARSON RESPONSE

Scenario 8A: Fire Detected in a Classroom During School Hours

SITUATION:

A fire alarm activates at 10:00 AM. A teacher smells smoke and sees flames coming from a supply closet near a 2nd grade classroom. The hallway is beginning to fill with smoke.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Initiate immediate evacuation of all classrooms in the affected wing

■ Account for all students and staff at designated assembly points

■ Contact 911 with building layout and fire location

■ Prevent re-entry until fire department provides the all-clear

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   What do you do if a student is unaccounted for at the assembly point?

2.   How do you evacuate students with mobility challenges?

3.   Who is the designated fire warden, and what are their responsibilities?

4.   What are the legal obligations for documenting a fire incident on school grounds?

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Scenario 8B: Suspected Arson at Church Property

SITUATION:

A security patrol officer doing a late-night walkthrough notices a person in dark clothing near the rear of the church building. Moments later, smoke begins rising from a trash bin next to the building's exterior wall.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Contact 911 immediately — fire department and police

■ Safely observe and document the suspect without direct confrontation

■ Activate the building fire suppression system and nearest extinguisher if safe

■ Preserve the scene for arson investigation

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   Why is direct confrontation of an arson suspect dangerous?

2.   What information about the suspect should be relayed to dispatch?

3.   How do you preserve potential evidence (footprints, dropped items)?

4.   What are the insurance and legal obligations following suspected arson?

9. PARKING LOT/VEHICLE THREAT

Scenario 9A: Vehicle Speeding Through School Parking Lot at Dismissal

SITUATION:

During afternoon student dismissal, a vehicle enters the school parking lot at high speed, narrowly missing a group of students and a crossing guard. The vehicle parks erratically and the driver exits, appearing intoxicated or distressed.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Immediately redirect students away from the parking area

■ Establish a safe perimeter around the vehicle and driver

■ Contact 911 to report a possible DUI or medical emergency

■ Coordinate with school traffic monitors to halt incoming vehicles

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   What immediate commands do you give to students and parents in the lot?

2.   How do you approach the driver — and when do you not approach?

3.   How do you manage the influx of parents still arriving for dismissal?

4.   What documentation is needed for school administration and police?

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Scenario 9B: Suspicious Individual Checking Vehicle Door Handles

SITUATION:

A security officer on patrol notices a man in the church parking lot methodically trying car door handles and peering into windows. There are multiple vehicles in the lot. A church event is ongoing inside.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Observe and document the individual's behavior before approaching

■ Using best-practice safety positioning with backup

■ Verbally challenge and identify the individual

■ Contact law enforcement if the individual is uncooperative or flees

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   At what point does observation become a duty to act?

2.   How do you approach without being a threat to yourself?

3.   What if the individual claims they own one of the vehicles?

4.   How should the church notify attendees about a potential vehicle burglary or vandalism?

10. MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS/SAFETY WELFARE CHECK

Scenario 10A: Person in Crisis on Church Grounds

SITUATION:

A woman is found sitting outside the church entrance, rocking back and forth, talking to herself, and occasionally screaming. She has no visible weapons but is highly agitated. Congregants are visibly uncomfortable and avoiding the entrance.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Establish calm, non-threatening communication with the individual

■ Creating space between the individual and the public

■ Contact 911 for a mental health welfare check

■ Keep the individual in sight while de-escalating until help arrives

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   What tone, language, and body posture are most effective in a mental health crisis?

2.   How do you prevent bystanders from filming or provoking the individual?

3.   Should church staff attempt physical intervention? Why or why not?

4.   How do you handle the situation if the individual is a known church member?

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Scenario 10B: Student Exhibiting Signs of Acute Mental Health Crisis

SITUATION:

A middle school student is found in the bathroom, unresponsive to questions, sitting on the floor refusing to move. A peer reports the student made a statement about 'not wanting to be here anymore' earlier in the day. The student becomes agitated when a teacher enters.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES:

■ Remain calm and use non-threatening, empathetic language

■ Remove other students from the vicinity to reduce stimulation

■ Contact the school counselor and notify administration

■ Ensure 1:1 supervision of the student until a mental health professional arrives

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.   How do you balance privacy with the safety obligation to report?

2.   What do you say — and NOT say — to a student expressing suicidal ideation?

3.   Who contacts the parents, and when, and with what information?

4.   How do you support other students who were present or heard the statement?

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