Security at your Place of Worship not just about Active Shooters

Security at your place of worship is not just about active shooters. There have been far too many of those sad, tragic and senseless acts of violence in recent years where religious services are observed. Many organizations have weighed in to help churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other places of worship inform and protect their buildings and people from future incidents. We applaud those educational and informational efforts.

Over the years, H&S Protection has installed security systems for many churches throughout SE and Central Wisconsin. The lessons we’ve learned help us protect any place of worship from vandalism, theft or intrusion. We can’t predict perfection or that our systems can stop an active shooter, but we can share thoughts on why it makes sense to protect where you pray when it seems like it should be the safest place on the planet.

 

When you attend service, the expectation is safety, security, serenity. You should be able to observe, reflect and contemplate in confidence. Because most of us trust others and more so in a worship-related environment, we tend not to think that a criminal might see the world in other ways. They may see a “soft target.” They may think it is easy to sneak in a church back door with no one being wiser.

We don’t like to cry wolf at H&S. But we do want our customers to be aware of their surroundings and possible breaches based on our experience. Churches do get robbed. Cash on hand can be considered an easy target. Some criminals look for these types of situations and take advantage of them.

What we provide is an added layer of protection. Surveillance cameras and alarm systems both work as deterrents. When installed properly by a professional technician, they will stand out. That prevents crime based on an investigative report from the Alarm Industry Research and Education Foundation (AIREF): When all other variables are equal, a prospective burglar will forego a facility that has a posted alarm system and find a target that does not.

Religious leaders should keep their congregations informed on personal safety. Exercise smart measures. Physical security measures like cameras and alarm systems may also make sense in many situations to add a layer of protection.

H&S Protection is here to help. If you have questions, please reach out to us. We can design you a security system to meet your exact needs, and which improves protection for your faithful.

Why Choose a Professional?

In the H&S Protection world of access control technology, surveillance cameras, alarm systems and fire monitoring equipment, there are many reasons to turn to us for a professional installation. Why should consumers choose us rather than installing systems themselves or asking a next door neighbor (who likes tinkering with high tech) to do it? Typically, choosing the do-it-yourself (DIY) route saves money. That’s a given. But it doesn’t mean the job is done right, the most appropriate equipment is installed or that security hot spots are effectively covered.

That’s where you want the pros at H&S. Yes, “DIY” may be the best option for some individuals. But in most cases, the amateur does NOT have the experience or training to recognize vulnerable points in an office building, manufacturing plant or warehouse. H&S technicians do though. Our people are highly trained and have thousands of hours of experience to share with customers to ensure the best coverage of their business.

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The angle and premier location of cameras, for example, are two simple advantages that H&S provides in comparison to a DIY system. Vulnerable areas are analyzed, discussed and covered during walk-throughs with customers. We ask questions to expertly determine vulnerabilities and concerns you face with your building. The designs of our security systems reflect the results from these analyses and question and answer sessions.

There are many reasons to choose a professional security services company like H&S Protection. If you’re a consumer solely looking for the lowest cost installation, H&S is probably not for you.

But if you want a competitive price, a free quote to compare costs, talented and trained technicians, high quality equipment and ongoing follow-up services, then give H&S Protection a shout. We deliver on our promises and are there to help with advice and follow-up down the road.

Fun and Games with H&S’s Mike Solomon

If you don’t happen to know H&S Protection’s Mike Solomon, you’ll quickly be introduced to one of the sharpest wits in North America. Known for keeping his fellow employees laughing during early Monday morning operations meetings, Mike makes sure everyone gets a chuckle to start their week as he creates an environment that’s looser and more productive.

On his door is the following statement: “Thought of the day – A person who feels appreciated will always do more than expected.” That encapsulates Mike.

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He may not want to let on about his softer side, but it lurks behind the biting humor, waiting to surface when helping others. His position at H&S as Operations Manager in Pewaukee means he’s the cog who ensures technicians are effectively assigned to projects; that the right equipment is available and on-site for installations and service calls; that troubleshooting a project goes seamlessly. He makes it happen. There’s no BS when it comes to getting the job done.

He described his job as creating tailor-made solutions for customers. “It’s not about what we ‘want’ to sell. It’s about what the customer wants to build. We build outside the box,” Mike explained.

Mike joined H&S 5 years ago after spending 14 years at Environmental Innovation, Inc., in a number of positions. He is married, with 2 kids, “one who is wonderful and one who is not,” he joked.

He stumbled onto H&S when, “I was out of work at the time and hadn’t thought about the security industry, but it turned out to be a good fit. The security industry is a good place to be regardless of which way the economy is headed.”

In his spare time, Mike joked that he likes to “rake a lot of leaves and lay on the couch and watch TV, particularly reruns of the Golden Girls.” He’s known for heavily supporting his kids’ sports teams and he “likes to play chess by myself.” He usually wins. But that’s Mike.