Church Security - Overt or Covert?

Here are some picture examples of both kinds of security teams.  They should be fairly obvious.  What I'd like to point out are some of the positives and negatives with each approach.  All in an effort to help you decide which strategy fits your church the best.  Just FYI, some of these will seem redundant.  The positive of one can actually become the negative of the other.  You'll get the idea.  Enjoy.

OVERT - Positives 

1.  People can not question who is in the authority position.  It's obvious through the way they dress.

2.  Attenders know exactly who to talk to if there's a problem.

3.  Bandits might think twice before causing trouble.  They can see from a distance that their crimes will be met with appropriate aggression.  Team members as deterrents. 

4.  If police or firefighters have to respond to your church, they will quickly be able to see who the good guys are.  This is especially helpful in the case of an active killer situation.

OVERT - Negatives

1.  People don't want to feel like they are being "policed".  Especially in church.

2.  The idea of a security team at a church can be a real turn-off to people.  

3.  Bandits know exactly who to target first when they attack.  Take out the opposition. 

4.  When people see that a church has a security team they usually wonder what's happened in the past or is happening currently that they need to be concerned about.  Are my children safe in this place?  Wait! Do these guys carry guns!?  

COVERT - Positives

1.  Very few people know you have a security team.  So there's really nothing for them to be worried about.  All seems normal here.  They can relax and be themselves.  New folks should feel welcome in your church.

2.  Tactical Advantage.  Bandits have no idea your safety team spotted them before they even entered the building, and have been watching their every move.

3.  Your safety team blends in with everyone else.  They are dressed similarly, (except for maybe a name badge) they talk and act like every other person in the church.  No one is scared or intimidated by their presence.  They could and probably should be part of your welcome team.

4.  They can carry radios and weapons concealed and no one is the wiser.  After-all, what's the point of having security if you don't give them the tools they need to protect themselves and others?

COVERT - Negatives

1.  It can be very difficult and dangerous for your safety team in the midst of an active killer situation.  The cops are running in looking for the guys with guns.  If your team is responding to the threat with their weapons drawn, they could get shot accidentally by the police.

2.  There can be a moment of confusion at the outset of an incident while the safety team asserts it's authority, due to the fact that parishioners can't tell who they are.

3.  If attenders have a problem or need help with something, they will tend to approach the closest person with a name badge on. This could be confusing for both parties.  

4.  Training intensive.  (not sure this is really a negative) This approach requires a good deal of training to make sure that your safety team members understand their roles completely.  They need to have appropriate responses mapped out for them so there is less confusion for the attender or individual having a problem.

5.  Bandits may feel a bit more freedom to attack your church because they assume you don't have security in place.

My opinion, after researching both options extensively, is that a Covert safety team is more advantageous.  The tactical and strategic options available to the covert team far outweigh the overt team's "officer presence" model.  Also, I can not overstate the importance of making new people feel welcome in your church.  We should be all about sharing Jesus with others.  That's the goal - period.

We will have a much harder time of this if people feel like they are being watched.

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