Building Security Policy

BUILDING SECURITY POLICY

Building Access

1. Exterior doors are locked and the building is alarmed at all times except during a Sunday Service and during approved building use.
2. Access is controlled by approved key and alarm code assignments. 

Firearms

1. With the exception of duly-licensed law enforcement officers, no firearms are permitted in the UUErie building.
2. Congregants and visitors with a legal carry permit are permitted to keep their weapons in a locked car. 
3. If a person possesses a firearm on the premises, except as defined above, the person will be asked to leave immediately. Should that person refuse to leave, the police shall be requested by 911. 

Intruder/Active Shooter Response

1. If there is an intruder and there is any evidence of guns or other weapons, call 911 from a cell phone or from the nearest church telephone, and alert another person to the situation.
2. Activate a Panic Button. 
3. Notify RE staff and Nursery.

Religious Education Response

1. Do NOT leave the classroom if you hear commotion or shooting.
2. Should an RE staff member or adult volunteer be notified that there is an intruder with a weapon in the building, the first course of action will be to lock down the rooms and move out of sight of small windows in the classroom and nursery doors.  Close blinds, and lock doors. 
3. Adults in the nursery should barricade doors and assist moving all children to an area that is out of sight.
4. There will always need to be some discretion on the part of the adults in the room as to what response is best, including when evacuation can be safely achieved.

Responding to a Mental Health Crisis 

1. Stay calm. The majority of mentally ill persons are not dangerous, but can be difficult to manage. Commons signs of mental illness include: audio or visual hallucinations, disorientation, paranoia and aggression.  
2. If the person states intent to harm her/himself or another person, call 911 immediately. Give explicit directions where police should enter UUErie to find you and the person. Ask someone to let one of the [Ushers/Security Team/Staff Person] know about what is happening and to return to let you know that a [Usher/Security Team/Staff] person was located. (The staff person will make sure that our RE classes are secured before they return to help you.) 
3. Ask someone to stay nearby to assist you.
4. Using a soft, respectful approach, move the person away from the event and to another place where you can be seen. Keep your tone even and conversational. In a conversational manner, ask for the person’s name and where they live. 
5. Give the person plenty of personal space. Don’t touch the person unless it is necessary and if you do, let the person know you are going to touch him/her. If possible, the person should not be physically or verbally coerced to leave the building. 
6. Listen to the person’s story, avoiding any attempts to challenge or argue with what may seem to be irrational remarks. When the staff person arrives, he/she will give the person a choice of what to do next: (a) to return to their car to go home, (b) to contact a local family member or friend who can pick them up, or (c) to call the police so that they may help the person. 
7. Accompany them outside to their car or wait until the family or police arrive. 

Warning Signs: It must be stressed that if you have had contact with ANY INDIVIDUALS who display the following tendencies, that you may contact law enforcement, and certainly notify leaders in your organization:  Threatens harm or talks about killing others.  Constantly starts or participates in fights.  Loses temper and self-control easily.  Swears or uses vulgar language most of the time. 

Adopted June 2024