WPGC

Church Security Workshop

Whistling Pines Gun Club

Tony Brunetto

Senior Instructor - WPGC

© 2016 DTC 1

WPGC

2© 2016 DTC

Thanks to each of you for

committing

to the protection of your

congregation

WPGC

3

Attitudes of Defenders

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Predator / Prey / Defender

LTC Dave Grossman, USA, Ret. defined these

states in his 1996 book; “On Killing”

Researched the mentality of combat troops, police,

and civilians

Defined three distinct mentalities Predator = wolf

Prey = sheep

Defender = sheepdog

Each mentality has unique characteristics

Mentality classification has nothing to do with

physical location

4© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Predator / Prey / Defender

5© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Motivation and Skills

Why did you volunteer for your church

security team?

Desire to help protect?

Are you committed to prepare and train?

What skills do you bring to the team?

Law enforcement, military combat ops

Accomplished CCW holder

Good judgement and patience

Ability to read people & anticipate actions

6© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Mindset

What is it?

The way that we view the world and our role in it

What does it influence?

How we live our lives and how we move through

our environment

Can it be changed?

Absolutely – but change takes commitment

What causes such a change?

Disaster, injury, education, epiphany

7© 2016 DTC

WPGC

8

Situational Awareness (S.A.)

What is it?

An overall awareness and understanding of your

surroundings, defensive assets, and potential threats

Why do I need it?

Good S.A. can help you avoid a dangerous situation

Preempt trouble or prepare you to react

Enables you to prepare an adequate and appropriate

defense

Helps you anticipate and identify potential/obvious threats

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

States of Awareness

Originated by LtCol Jeff Cooper, USMC, Ret.

First to codify basics of handgun defense

Color coded states of awareness

Relates mental awareness to ability to defend

States of awareness aren't tied to physical location

No links between states of awareness and threat

proximity

Great starting point to understand mental

preparation

9© 2016 DTC

WPGC

States of Awareness

Combat Mindset

10

White - you are unprepared and unready to take lethal action. If you are attacked you will probably die unless your adversary is totally inept.

Yellow - you realize that your life may be in danger and that you may have to do something about it.

Orange - you have identified an adversary(ies) and are prepared to take action which may result in his/their death, but you are not in a lethal mode yet.

Red - you are in a lethal mode and will shoot if circumstances warrant.

Black - catastrophic breakdown of mental and physical performance. Over 175 heartbeats per minute. May have stopped thinking correctly.

May occur when going from Condition White or Yellow immediately to Condition Red. (USMC)

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

11

Protective Challenges

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Personal Safety Zones

Societal expectation of safety

Private vs. public environments

Private: home, vehicle

You generally control the environment

Expectation of absolute safety from attack

Public: church, mall, restaurant, theater

Many forces influence the environment

Expectation of reasonable safety from attack

12© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Personal Safety Zones

13

10’ Danger

Zone21’ Minimum

Defense Zone30’ Caution

Zone 1.5 sec.

reaction

envelope3.0 sec.

reaction

envelope5.0 sec.

reaction

envelope

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Your Greatest Threat

14© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Ambush Tactics

Friendly Approach - attacker approaches the target

in a non-threatening manner to ask for directions etc.

Once the target is engaged in conversation the attacker

places the target at risk with a weapon.

Task Distraction – the attacker scans for a target

engrossed in a task; handing out materials, greeting

church members, or giving directions. Attacker closes

and places target at risk with a weapon.

15© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Ambush Tactics

16

Frontal Assault – the attacker approaches head on

and presents a weapon when within several feet of the

target. Attacker depends on speed and shock effect to

enhance effectiveness of attack.

Herding – attackers work in a pair where one

approaches quickly posing a potential threat. The goal is

to have the target(s) react to the approach driving the

target(s) in the direction of the second attacker. The

herding direction will usually take the target away from lit

and populated areas.

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Target ID / Location

17© 2016 DTC

VS

WPGC

Expectations

Fear factor

Natural response to negative stimuli

Surprise / shock of attack

Possibility of injury or death

Uncertain outcome

Potential debilitating effect

Rapid change to states of awareness

Negative psychological & physiological effects

Significantly influenced by mindset; prey or defender

18© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Expectations

Psychological effects

Prey cannot effectively process attack data

Caught entirely by surprise

State of denial, violence is a foreign concept

Situation defies logical processing

Gross mental confusion, indecisive action if any

Defender assesses attack data

Situational awareness reduces element of surprise

Accepts the world can be a violent place

Relies on trained reaction

Mentally rehearsed the event, can mount defense

19© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Expectations

Physiological effects

Increased pulse and respiration rate

Changes in blood flow

Reduced manual dexterity / fine motor coordination

Changes in sensory perception

Delayed mental – physical action linkage

Prey has no mechanism to compensate for

diminished physical capabilities

Defender understands and anticipates negative

effects

Constructed compensation strategies

20© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Expectations

Impulse management

If attacked expect you’ll be injured

Fear is natural, but don’t let it paralyze you

Trust your training, react

Options are defined by the situation and your

willingness / ability to fight

Self preservation is # 1

Resignation – defeat is the only possible result

Logical flight – escape to enhance survival

Total war – aggressive attack to neutralize

21© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Injuries

22© 2016 DTC

WPGC

23© 2016 DTC

Human Dynamics

WPGC

Overview

24

The addition of people to any facility complicates

the protection process

Effective protection planning depends on an

understanding of the environment, facility

functions, and population dynamics

Assess your facility and population from the

outside in, use the “eyes of an attacker”

Security procedures and facility improvements

can greatly enhance personnel security and

safety

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Population Flow & Concentration

25

Population distribution and concentration changes over a given period of time

Generally predictable

Can be studied and analyzed

Exploitable for attack

Arrival and departure areas

“Condensed crowds”

Formal gathering places

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Facility Population Dynamics

26

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

0:00

6:00

7:00

8:00

9:00

11:0

0

12:0

0

13:0

0

16:0

0

17:0

0

18:0

0

20:0

00:

00

Lobby

Cafeteria

Population

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

In Case of Emergency

Human response to crisis

Mental confusion - freeze in disbelief

Rapidly move in the direction of an exit

Attempt to hide

Complicating factors

Parents collecting/protecting children

Elderly or infirmed unable to move quickly

“Unofficial” defenders with CCW permits

27© 2016 DTC

WPGC

28© 2016 DTC

Make sure the wolf never

gets inside the door!

WPGC

29© 2016 DTC

Physical Security

WPGC

Background

30

We cannot protect everything, all the time, or

against every threat

Our ability to protect is a function of time, place,

determination, design, and circumstances

Protective strategies cannot be static, they must

adapt as the population moves or threats evolve

Our ability to protect is diminished by a “rule

based” mentality

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Understand the Threat

31© 2016 DTC

WPGC

FBI Active Shooter Report

160 incidents between 2000 – 2013

Occurred in 40 different states

Incidents ended in 5 minutes or less in 44 of 64

60% ended BEFORE police arrived

No accurate or useful predictive pattern

Age: teens to sixties

Both sexes, all races

Some expressed motives, some just “snapped”

32© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Layered Security

Security starts at the property line

Establish layers of security

Parking lot

Main entrance

Vestibule

Primary congregation areas

Security assets should adjust to population

movement/concentration

33© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Controlling Access

Secondary entrances

Secured and armed with audible alarms

Limit access to high vantage points

Choir loft

Designate “Greeters” at the entrance

Screen attendees before/as they enter

34© 2016 DTC

WPGC

35© 2016 DTC

Positive Outcomes

WPGC

P.A.I.N.E.R.

Developed by Direct Training Concepts (DTC)

Mnemonic to describe the steps for surviving a

hostile encounter

Prevention

Assess the situation

Initiate defense action

Neutralize the threat

Escape

Report the attack

36© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Crisis Response Operations

37

Pre-planned

Realistic and up to date

Sufficient and available resources

Coordinated with all participants and assets

Worse case scenarios considered

Crisis response must be practiced

Incorporate into daily operations

Evaluate honestly

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Basics

Identify and intercept early

“Read the faces & body language”

Isolate and contain the threat

Provide necessary security assets

Move the potential threat away from crowds

Use simple but forceful verbal commands

Avoid target fixation – distractions

Look for secondary threats

Practice force application

Restraint through lethal force

38© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Commitment to Action

Lack of mental preparation for combat is the

# 1 vulnerability

Select a course of action – commit 110%

Indecision negates any level of defensive skill

Use sufficient force to neutralize threat

Use all available assets

Protection and survival are the objectives

Denial is destructive

This is happening now – deal with it decisively

39© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Training

40

Engage all participants

Make sure security team understands assignments

Ensure all participants are comfortable and

proficient in their roles

Vary training scenarios and exercise types

Coordinate with LEA/crisis response managers

Evaluate goals and scope of training

Use all available training resources

© 2016 DTC

WPGC

Value of Rehearsal

Tactical rehearsal refines responses

Rehearse in your actual facility

Foundation for performance patterns

Move from micro to macro details

Visualization

Different settings, conditions, and weapons

Adjust action based on envisioned result

Incorporate into training

Standard weapon practice; drawing, index shooting

Practical scenarios, stress training, unexpected events

41© 2016 DTC

WPGC

10 Truths of a Gun Fight

1. Time is not your friend; delay can be deadly

2. Whoever shoots first has a better chance of winning

3. Pick your target before your hand moves to your gun

4. Aim center mass; leave the hero shots for movies & TV

5. Only shoot enough to stop the threat

6. NEVER lose count of your ammo

7. Avoid shooting your gun “dry”

8. Move to cover as quickly as possible

9. Don’t reholster your firearm until the fight is over

10. If you can’t run faster than the bad guys, practice

shooting

42© 2016 DTC

WPGC

43© 2016 DTC