HPD teaching church members how to protect themselves

ByCourtney Fischer KTRK logo

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

With recent violence and threats geared toward Texas churches, the Houston Police Department is holding a training for members to learn to better protect themselves.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Houston Police Department wants to make churches a safe place for members to worship and gather. Today they're hosting a seminar on safety and security for churches.

The training comes just two days after a man walked into a Houston church and threatened to kill a church deacon, the deacon's toddler daughter and to rape and kill his wife.

And it is being held just three weeks after the Sutherland Springs Baptist church shooting where a man killed 26 people attending church services in the small Texas town outside of San Antonio. It is the worst mass shooting in state history.

Today's seminar will include the Houston Police Department Police and Clergy Alliance (PACA) and members of the Houston Area Pastors Council (HAPC).

The training is going to focus on two things: How to survive an active shooter and parking lot security. It will be led by officers, and is open to the public.

The man who allegedly made the threats inside the Houston church Sunday, 20-year-old Keanu Randolph, is charged with retaliation, unlawfully carrying a weapon and resisting arrest. He has already bonded out of jail.

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