de-escalation – SemperVerus

Enroll in the Sheepdog Church Security Academy Safety Member Certification Program

Church security teams usually consist of every-day volunteers: men and women who are passionate about doing all they can to protect their congregation from natural and man-made threats, but who are not professionally trained in law enforcement, military defense, or medical emergency skills.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

SemperVerus highly recommends the Sheepdog Church Security Academy Safety Member Certification program as an excellent online training curriculum that prepares volunteers to handle the full spectrum of threats churches face today—emergency response, disruptive persons, violent intruders, and abuse. Students gain practical skills rooted in legal clarity, real-world tactics, and biblical values.

Stopped: Armed Man Threatening Mass Shooting in a Naples, Florida Church

A 23-year-old man walked into a Naples, Florida church Sunday, July 6, 2025, during the final moments of the morning worship service. Two church employees observed his erratic behavior and strange statements. He claimed to be a “trained killer,” asked how much money it would take to stop a mass shooting, and appeared to have a handgun in his waistband.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

While one staff member attempted to de-escalate the situation and call 911, another discreetly moved children to safety. When deputies arrived and disarmed him, they discovered he had a loaded handgun, a round in the chamber, and three fully loaded magazines containing 60 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Church Security Intelligence Clipboard

Key Church Security Articles

• A Prayer for Church Security Team Members

• Church Security Book Review: Defending the Flock

• Enroll in the Sheepdog Church Security Academy Safety Member Certification Program

• The 5 Lines of Defense in Church Security, Beginning Outside

• Church Security: Radio Communications Best Practices

• Church Security Training: Decision Decks Help You Think Through a Crisis Before It Happens

• A Simple Chart for Situational Awareness

• Make Scanning Your Priority

• Checklist: Church Security/Safety Equipment

By semperverus
Posted on 06/13/202509/21/2025
12 Comments on Church Security Intelligence Clipboard

Organizing, Training & Running a House of Worship Armed Congregant Security Team

Emanuel Kapelsohn The Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network (ACLDN) is a membership organization that helps members in the legal fight after they justifiably use force in self-defense by paying for the services of attorneys, expert witnesses, private investigators, and more. It also educates members in the law governing use of force in self-defense and how armed citizens can protect against unmeritorious prosecution.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Review: House of Worship Firearms and Use of Force Policy ]

Attorney, court expert witness, and ACLDN Advisory Board member Emanuel Kapelsohn, president of The Peregrine Corporation, and author of the House of Worship Firearms Use of Force Policy Bundle (as a service to SemperVerus readers, Emanuel Kapelsohn is making this computer-fillable formatted policy bundle available at a $25 discount from the regular price. Order the bundle here. Then, on the checkout page, simply type in the discount promo code SEMPERVERUS25.), is interviewed in the ACLDN Journal on the subject of “Organizing, Training & Running a House of Worship Armed Congregant Security Team.” Below are the complete 2-part video interviews, links to the Journal print articles, and bullet points of salient information from the interview: