Shepherd's Shield Safety Foundation – Security Assessment Report

1. Introduction & Purpose

This report presents the findings of a security assessment conducted by the Shepherd's Shield Safety Foundation at the facility identified on the cover page. The assessment was designed to evaluate physical security conditions, operational readiness, and the overall capacity of the facility to protect its congregation and staff from threats including active violence, unauthorized access, fire, and other emergencies.

Foundation Principle: All recommendations in this report are guided by a de-escalation first philosophy — equipping the church to be a place of peace, protection, and worship. Our ultimate goal is the preservation of life in all its forms.

Assessment Scope

This assessment evaluated the following areas:

Security Management & Planning
Perimeter Security, Grounds & Lighting
Parking & Traffic Safety
Access Control, Doors & Key Management
Video Surveillance Systems (VSS)
Communications & Duress/Alarm Systems
Emergency Action Plans & Drills
Security Team Readiness
Medical & First Aid Preparedness
Interior Facility (Sanctuary, Children's Wing, Offices)

Assessment Team

Name	Title / Role	Agency	Date

Facility Overview

Denomination / Affiliation
Facility Type
Operating Hours
Average Weekly Attendance
Staff / Volunteer Count
Includes School / Childcare?
On-Site Security / LEO?
Security Team in Place?
Written Security Plan Exists?
Previous Security Assessment?

2. Overall Security Ratings Summary

The table below reflects the assessed security posture for each pillar evaluated during this engagement. Ratings range from Very Low (minimal or no protection) to Very High (comprehensive, regularly assessed). These ratings represent conditions observed at the time of assessment.

Security Pillar	Very Low	Low	Medium	High	Very High
Security Management & Planning
Perimeter Security & Grounds
Parking & Traffic Safety
Access Control & Entry Points
Video Surveillance Systems (VSS)
Communications & Duress Systems
Emergency Action Plans & Drills
Security Team Readiness
Medical & First Aid Readiness
Interior Facility & Children's Wing

Fill the appropriate circle for each pillar. Color coding: Very Low = Red | Low = Orange | Medium = Yellow | High = Green | Very High = Dark Green

Key Strengths Identified

Tag the areas where this facility demonstrated strong existing practices:

Example: Locked exterior doors during services Example: Active security team

Critical Gaps Identified

Tag the most urgent security gaps requiring immediate attention:

Example: No written emergency action plan Example: No VSS coverage at main entry

Summary Narrative

[Write a 3–5 sentence summary of the facility's overall security posture. Note any immediate life-safety concerns, general trends observed across pillars, and the facility's overall readiness compared to similar congregations assessed by Shepherd's Shield. Be specific, constructive, and direct.]

3. Detailed Findings by Pillar

For each pillar, document the current rating, observations, vulnerabilities identified, and recommended options for consideration. Add additional rows or pages as needed.

📋 Security Management & Planning [ Rating ]

Observations

[Describe what was found — security committee status, written plan, coordination with LEO, staff training completion, etc.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

[List specific gaps, e.g., "No written security plan exists." / "Security team meets informally but has no defined roles."]

Options for Consideration

[Specific recommended actions, e.g., "Contact Shepherd's Shield to develop a customized written security plan within 60 days."]

🔒 Perimeter Security & Grounds [ Rating ]

Observations

[Fencing, gates, vegetation compliance, VAAW vulnerability, IED concealment points, exterior lighting, CPTED conditions.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

Options for Consideration

🚗 Parking & Traffic Safety [ Rating ]

Observations

[Traffic flow, vehicle barriers, VAAW risk near pedestrian areas, fire lane compliance, VSS parking coverage.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

Options for Consideration

🚪 Access Control & Entry Points [ Rating ]

Observations

[Single entry point use, visitor management, door construction and hardware, key control, security vestibule, lockdown capability.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

Options for Consideration

📷 Video Surveillance Systems (VSS) [ Rating ]

Observations

[Camera coverage, monitoring, recording status, blind spots, housing condition, LEO access, password protection, signage.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

Options for Consideration

📣 Communications & Duress Systems [ Rating ]

Observations

[Radio use, PA system reach, mass notification capability, panic button availability and testing, alarm systems, staff training on duress protocols.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

Options for Consideration

🗂️ Emergency Action Plans & Drills [ Rating ]

Observations

[Active threat / lockdown plan, shelter-in-place, fire evacuation, LEO/FD/EMS coordination, drill history, Run-Hide-Fight training, rally points, safe havens, congregation awareness.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

Options for Consideration

👥 Security Team Readiness [ Rating ]

Observations

[Team size, armed vs. unarmed members, background check status, licensing compliance, posting assignments, training completion, pre-service briefings, chain of command.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

Options for Consideration

🏥 Medical & First Aid Readiness [ Rating ]

Observations

[First aid kits, hemorrhage control / Stop-the-Bleed kits, AED availability, supply readiness (out of packaging), staff training, supply location awareness, inspection schedule.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

Options for Consideration

🏛️ Interior Facility & Children's Wing [ Rating ]

Observations

[Sanctuary lockdown capability, sight lines, children's wing access control, child check-in system, volunteer vetting, nursery VSS, office record security, utility/mechanical security.]

Vulnerabilities Identified

Options for Consideration

Additional Findings & Observations

[Document any findings that do not fit within the ten pillars above — unusual conditions, unique vulnerabilities specific to this facility's layout, community context, or threat environment. Include photos or diagrams in the appendix if applicable.]

4. Priority Action Plan

The following recommendations are prioritized based on life-safety impact and feasibility. Actions are organized into four priority tiers. Shepherd's Shield Safety Foundation is available to assist with implementation, training, and follow-up assessment for any item listed below.

Priority Definitions

CRITICAL	Immediate life-safety risk. Address within 30 days or sooner. May require temporary compensating measures until resolved.
HIGH	Significant vulnerability that substantially increases risk. Address within 60–90 days.
MEDIUM	Moderate vulnerability. Address within 90–180 days as resources allow.
LOW	Best-practice improvement. Address within 6–12 months as part of ongoing security enhancement.

#	Priority	Recommended Action	Pillar / Area
1	Critical	[e.g., Establish an active threat / lockdown plan and brief all staff and security team]	[Emergency Plans]
2	Critical
3	High	[e.g., Install VSS cameras at all exterior entry/exit points with recording capability]	[VSS]
4	High
5	High
6	Medium	[e.g., Procure hemorrhage control kits and train security team on Stop-the-Bleed]	[Medical]
7	Medium
8	Medium
9	Low	[e.g., Implement a Knox Box / first responder key access system]	[Access Control]
10	Low

Recommended Implementation Timeline

Phase 1

0–30 Days

Address all Critical items.
Brief staff & security team.
Schedule Shepherd's Shield training engagement.

Phase 2

30–90 Days

Address all High priority items.
Conduct first security drill.
Coordinate with local LEO/FD/EMS.

Phase 3

90–180 Days

Address Medium priority items.
Complete team training program.
Document all procedures in writing.

Phase 4

180–365 Days

Address Low priority items.
Schedule re-assessment with SSSF.
Sustain ongoing security culture.

5. Shepherd's Shield Recommended Services

Shepherd's Shield Safety Foundation offers the following services to help your congregation move from assessment to action. Our team brings decades of real-world military, law enforcement, and security training experience directly to your facility.

Service	Description	Recommended
Security Team Training	Armed/unarmed church security team training, de-escalation, active threat response, and role-specific protocols.
Force-on-Force Scenario Training	Immersive simunition-based scenarios tailored to church environments. Develops decision-making under stress.
Emergency Action Plan Development	Custom written emergency action plans (active threat, shelter-in-place, fire) specific to your facility's layout.
Congregation Safety Seminar	Run-Hide-Fight/Avoid-Deny-Defend, See Something/Say Something, and situational awareness training for the congregation.
Stop-the-Bleed / First Aid Training	Hemorrhage control, AED use, and emergency medical response training for staff and security volunteers.
Annual Re-Assessment	Follow-up threat and vulnerability assessment to measure progress and identify new or evolving risks.

6. Follow-Up & Next Steps

Re-Assessment Date Recommended
Training Engagement Date Proposed
Local LEO Coordination Meeting
Church Point of Contact for Follow-Up
SSSF Follow-Up Contact
Additional Notes

7. Certification & Sign-Off

This report reflects findings and recommendations based on conditions observed during the assessment date listed on the cover page. The assessor(s) certify that this report was completed in good faith, using the Shepherd's Shield Safety Foundation assessment methodology, to the best of their professional knowledge and ability.

This report is SENSITIVE and intended solely for the use of the assessed facility and Shepherd's Shield Safety Foundation. It should be stored securely and not distributed without authorization from both parties. The existence of this report does not guarantee security or constitute legal advice.

Lead Assessor Signature
Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________

Church / Facility Representative
Name: _____________________________
Title: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________

SSSF Director Review
Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________

🛡️ Shepherd's Shield Safety Foundation

"Protecting the Flock. Preserving Life. Glorifying God."

We are committed to walking alongside faith-based communities — not just assessing risk, but equipping your team with the training, plans, and confidence to protect those in your care.

Contact: [Phone] | [Email] | [Website]

Appendix — Supporting Documentation

Attach any supporting materials below or as separate documents. Label each item clearly with the pillar or finding it supports.

Appendix A — Site Photos / Diagrams

[Attach labeled photographs documenting key vulnerabilities, existing security measures, or site-specific conditions referenced in the report. Include a brief caption for each photo identifying the location and finding it supports.]

Appendix B — Floor Plan / Site Map Annotations

[Attach an annotated floor plan or aerial site map marking: entry/exit points, VSS camera locations and coverage areas, safe havens, hard corners, rally points, high-speed avenues of approach, vehicle barrier locations, and any critical vulnerability locations.]

Appendix C — Reference Resources

CISA Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment — cisa.gov/protecting-houses-worship
CISA Security Planning Workbook — cisa.gov/security-planning-workbook
ASIS Securing Houses of Worship — asisonline.org
FBI Active Shooter Resources — fbi.gov/about/partnerships/office-of-partner-engagement/active-shooter-resources
Stop the Bleed — stopthebleed.org
Run. Hide. Fight. — dhs.gov/run-hide-fight
Interagency Security Committee, Facility Security Plan Guide — cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/isc-facility-security-plan-guide

Appendix D — Assessment Checklist (Completed)

Attach the completed Shepherd's Shield Safety Foundation Houses of Worship Security Assessment checklist as a supporting document to this report.