Sacramento Churches Turn To Security To Keep Sanctuaries Safe

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A tragic shooting that killed 9 people inside a South Carolina church has Sacramento church leaders thinking about their own security.

Jean Perkins, an administrator for Calvary Christian Center in Sacramento, says the church leadership not only believe an attack is possible, they've prepared for it.

"We've had a lot of vandalism, church bus burning. We've had a lot of things going on. Attacks against our ministry," she said.

Perkins says many of their own parishioners may not even be aware, but security personnel are sitting among them at worship services.

"Off-duty officers, retired officers corrections officers," she said.

Many churches are turning to security training for answers. Groups such as the National Organization of Church Security and Safety Management in Texas teach classes including

• Recognizing The Latest Terrorist Threats Against Churches,
• Strategies on Confronting Armed and Unarmed Attackers, and
• The Importance Creating Church Security Policies.

"Its good to be proactive," Perkins said.

She says the center already has security policies and will also teach a workshop on church security in Sacramento next month.

"A lot of our church leaders have been trained to watch for certain things," she said. "And that's what church security will teach in our workshops. Things to look for on Sunday mornings or anytime you have a worship service."