Securing Houses of Worship

1
Securing Houses of Worship

• A Community Service Project of
• The American Society for Industrial Security
  (ASIS) and
• Chapter 30, The Florida West Coast Chapter of
  ASIS
• Robert W. Smedley, ASIS Member

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Securing Houses of Worship

• To be prepared against surprise is to be
  trained. To be prepared for surprise is to be
  educated.
• - James Carse

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Securing Houses of Worship Why ASIS?

• American Society for Industrial Security
• Largest global organization for professionals
  responsible for security.
• Community Service Project of ASIS
• ASIS has partnered with local, state and national
  law enforcement agencies.

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Securing Houses of Worship Goals and Objective

• Review security concerns for Houses of Worship
  since 9/11
• Review local, state and national law enforcement
  resources
• Outline a strategy for moving forward and
  hardening the facility

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Securing Houses of Worship Todays Situation

• Houses of Worship are regularly attended by large
  numbers of people making them a prime target for
  terrorists
• A large majority of Houses of Worship have
  implemented no security changes since 9/11
• The vulnerability factor is extremely high and
  rising rapidly

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What has changed in the last several months?

• 9/11 Changed everything
• Terrorism is not limited to major US cities such
  as NY, DC
• The issue is not if terrorism will strike a
  House of Worship, but when
• Houses of Worship are the softest, most
  vulnerable targets

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What are terrorists after?

• 1. Many Fatalities
• 2. Damage to Infrastructure
• 3. Destruction of Symbolic Targets

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Why is ASIS Involved

• ASIS has partnered with local, state and national
  law enforcement agencies to harden Houses of
  Worship
• The purpose is to educate, inform and prepare
  Houses of Worship against future terrorist events

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Recommendation

• A comprehensive site review and written risk
  assessment
• A detailed understanding of the resources
  available to harden facilities

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SECURING HOUSES OF WORSHIP

• Thank you very much!