Articles with interviews

Interview With Cody Blocker, Certified Protection Specialist

SemperVerus interviewed Cody Blocker, Certified Protection Specialist, founding member and past president of the Midwest Church Security Coalition, author of Protecting Your Church: Thoughts on Church Security and Leadership, and founder of Safety Systems Group, self-defense training company.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

Please describe Safety Systems Group.
Safety Systems Group is my consulting and training company that focuses on church security. I teach volunteer church security teams all the “hard skills” like defensive tactics and handguns, but I specialize in training volunteer teams in the “soft skills” of awareness, threat assessment, behavior recognition, and verbal de-escalation.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Gentle Response De-Escalation Training for Church Security Teams ]

Why have you included the topic of church security in the training you provide?
Security falls under the umbrella of stewardship. We need to protect what God has entrusted to us. I started as the director of security for a large church in the Midwest and saw the need. I have a passion for the kingdom, and I don’t like churches being seen as soft targets. I believe each church needs to have a strong stewardship value and protect itself.

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Interview With Vaughn Baker, President of Strategos International

SemperVerus interviewed Vaughn Baker, president of Strategos International, the global firm specializing in security training, consulting, and executive protection services for school, healthcare, government, law enforcement, military, and faith-based organizations.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Analyzing Active Threat Response Models: A Comparative Study ]

Please describe Strategos International and the multiple services you provide.
Strategos International is a national security consulting and training firm dedicated to helping organizations protect their people and purpose. Since 2002, we’ve served clients across corporate, healthcare, K-12/college, government, and faith-based sectors with a comprehensive, values-driven approach that aligns well with SemperVerus’ emphasis on being prepared, aware, and steadfastly “staying true.”

Our Four Divisions
1) Training

  • Conflict management & de-escalation (The S.A.F.E. Approach) for staff and leaders.
  • Active threat response (PREVAIL! e-learning and instructor-led).
  • Church security team development, usher/greeter safety, volunteer protection skills.
  • Workplace violence prevention, behavioral threat awareness, and scenario-based drills.

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Interview With Bob Chauncey, Founder of Church Security Institute Network

SemperVerus interviewed Bob Chauncey, CPP, CISM, LEO (Ret.), founder of Church Security Institute Network.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, New Website Address for Church Security Institute Network ]

What prompted you to enter a career in the fields of law enforcement, private security, and chaplaincy?
As the son of a Baptist pastor, I didn’t want to be a preacher, but rather a police officer, and God let me do that and more.

In college, I got a scholarship as the assistant to the security officer, a retired Navy Chief. I worked from 7 pm to 10 pm, patrolling the campus and responding to calls, and he called when he was ready to take the night shift. I guess this gave me interest in a later law enforcement role.

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Interview With Lori Morrison, Private Investigator

SemperVerus interviewed Lori Morrison, retired private investigator, author, and host of The Unlovely Truth podcast. She’ll be speaking at the 2025 Church Facilities Expo in Chattanooga, September 22-24, 2025. To register and for more information go to ChurchFacilitiesExpo.com.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of CHURCH SECURITY ]

What prompted you to become a private investigator?
I was following a local case of a missing (and later found murdered) young woman in the news, and it made me wonder who would help me if that happened to MY child. God ignited a passion in me to help find justice for hurting families.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Secret Service Threat Assessment Church Case Study Links Domestic Violence with Mass Attacks ]

Describe the work of a private investigator.
It’s not as constantly exciting as it looks on TV. Good investigators spend a lot of time digging into every little detail that could make a difference in a case, because you don’t always know what’s going to be important right away. You have to talk to a lot of people and find ways to make them want to talk to you. It’s important to keep an open mind and be ready to follow the evidence, not a narrative that someone is giving you. You have to be ready to face the darker side of human nature, keeping in mind that the truth is what ultimately matters. We don’t always get justice, but we can support our clients in finding as much of the truth as possible.

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