Stay Safe: Security Issues for Secretaries
A discussion of violence prevention seems a world apart from the daily activities of church and denominational secretaries, but the number of violent crimes prevalent in our country's cities, towns and villages demands the subject be reviewed.
Most days, we venture from our homes and travel a familiar route to our workstations with our minds focused on projects, reports, deadlines and so on. How many times have you arrived at a destination to suddenly wonder how you got there or to question why an errand was overlooked along the journey? A first step in personal security is being aware of your surroundings.
Personal Security
Scan the other vehicles and people in close proximity to you and notice their actions. Try to determine if their actions could be aggressive toward you. If so, move away as quickly as possible. A good rule while walking is not to allow any unfamiliar person into a 20-foot diameter space around you. If an aggressive person moves into this protective space, move quickly to where other people are, even if you have to miss an appointment.
Find alternate routes to work and/or home and randomly use them. This practice will force you to drive more assertively and can thwart becoming the victim of an attacker who preys on people with unbroken routines.
Park your car in a well-lit, highly visible space.
Avoid storing valuable possessions in the passenger compartment. Keeping valuables there could attract a thief or attacker.
Have car keys in your hand when walking to a locked building or to your car.
Minimize the time you are exposed in a parking lot. Many people have become victims while fumbling for their car keys in a purse or a pocket.
Always lock your car, even if you will only be away for a few minutes.
When traveling in unfamiliar areas to lead seminars or attend meetings, preplan your route of travel, with an alternate. A preplanned route should follow a highly traveled area rather than shortcuts through side streets. Some travel clubs offer this service along with expertise in successfully navigating in unfamiliar surroundings. Recently I became aware of a computer software package that can aid preplanning by mapping a trip.
Church Security
In my last pastorate, the secretary was often in the church building by herself. This practice was of great concern to the church leaders and myself. We established a procedure that all exterior doors were to be locked when only the secretary was working. A doorbell was installed at the door closet to the parking lot; a sign indicated "Ring bell for service." The exterior door had a window that allowed visual inspection of the visitor before the door was unlocked for admittance.
The security monitoring systems of many metropolitan churches include closed-circuit television cameras at one or more doors and monitor(s) in the church office. One or more exterior doors are electronically controlled from the church office and include a two-way communication system to allow interviewing people seeking access.
Security companies are available in most areas and can install a variety of protection systems that will accommodate most budgets. Only work with licensed, reputable companies that have a good or better rating with the Better Business Bureau. Ingenuity and common sense can produce an efficient, affordable protection system for every church. If your workplace does not have protection procedures/devices, pursue them for your personal security.
Practicing personal security is consciously being aware of those around us. Every person can exercise caution and personal security The challenge is to make the practices a habit of successful living.
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