Early on Sunday mornings, Bill Griffith arrives for service at the First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland wearing a concealed weapon.
Mr. Griffith is one of several people who are around to keep the peace if needed during services and activities in the church.
While many churches hire security guards to patrol during service hours, Mr. Griffith is part of a unique Bradley County Sheriff’s Office program that trains residents to protect their local place of worship.
“This gives (members) a great opportunity to serve their church,” he said. “The effort that you put forth is so rewarding when you know that not only are you better trained but you’re helping your church.”
CHURCH PROTECTIONThe Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is taking applications for the 2010 church protection program. To be eligible:* Attendees must successfully complete background check* Must be recommended by the churches they are going to serve* Must be members of their churches church* Must complete physical and psychological examinationsSource: Bradley County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Tim Gobble said he started the program last year after seeing the need for church members to have the training needed to protect their congregation.
“We hope it never happens,” he said. But if violence starts, he said, “hopefully this person might be in the position to end it very quickly before additional people arrive and in turn save lives.”
When the program first was announced in 2008, there were concerns about liability from having armed people in the congregation. Sheriff Gobble said the department has worked hard to teach those enrolled in the program the scope of their responsibility.
“Their law enforcement authority only applies while they are engaged in the actual duty of protecting that church service or event,” he said. “It doesn’t extend off the church property at the local Shoney’s after church.”
Ten officers graduated last year’s program after completing 80 hours of training. Their churches had been giving positive feedback, the sheriff said.
Churches in other Tennessee counties and from as far away as Texas have called to ask how to get involved in the program or get materials to start their own, Sheriff Gobble said.
When the program was beginning, Sheriff Gobble asked Mr. Griffith, a reserve officer and former chief deputy, to help lead the class.
Mr. Griffith said he watched the students’ confidence build as they learned how to respond in threatening situations.
“You get verbal training, physical training, weapons training, anything you might need to prevent or stop a threat – you’re able to do that,” he said.