Safety and Security Task Force

Houses of worship are meant to be places of shelter, reflection, and peace, where strangers are welcome. But the recent string of high-profile mass shootings in the U.S. is a reminder violence can happen anywhere. Saint Michael & All Angels is joining houses of worship across the country in taking precautionary steps by forming a Safety and Security Task Force led by the Rev. Dr. Barbara Stewart.

Over the summer months, meetings were held with the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. A vulnerability assessment of St. Mike’s campus focused on physical site security, access/entry control, and integration of existing security features with recommended procedural additions to improve overall security and preparedness.

Creating a space that is both safe and welcoming is possible! The assessment identified several options likely to lower St. Mike’s general risk level. There are two dozen precautions we can take immediately at little to no cost. There are high-cost solutions too, but several non-profit security grant programs can be leveraged to cover funding. The parish task force will evaluate and prioritize the assessment recommendations.

If you have experience working on security and risk mitigation, please consider joining this task force. Progress updates will be shared with the parish over the coming months. Contact Barbara+ if you have questions or would like more information.