03/28/2024
Bladen County Sheriff's Department
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By: Erin Smith

Bladen County Sheriff's DepartmentZion Hill Baptist Church in Bladenboro recently participated in the church security training offered by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.  Pastor Warren Hill said that the training session was a positive experience as well as eye-opening for the congregation.

“They did an excellent job checking our facility,” said Hill.

He said that Sgt. Barry Pait and Instructor Gary Turlington of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office discussed various security measures including some things to consider in the event someone was sick or injured. Hill said Pait and Turlington also provided information about various methods that are available to make their facilities safer.

“They just did a great job and we appreciate Sheriff Jim McVicker,” said Hill. 

The Church Security Training program offers churches the opportunity to learn about ways they can secure their facilities, what resources are available to them, and what to do in an emergency.

Hill said he learned about the program when he attended the first session that was held at the Elizabethtown Baptist Church for the county’s clergy. Hill said the recent session held at the church he serves as pastor was very informative.

“We learned about what we can do to be more secure on Sunday morning and Sunday night and Wednesday,” said Hill.

Topics discussed in the training materials include:

— Conducting a Security Risk Assessment

— Developing a Place of Worship Security Plan

— What to do during the Critical Incident

— What to do immediately after the Critical Incident

— The need to provide Crisis Intervention Stress Management afterward.

Leaders of churches and places of worship who wish to learn more about the training that is available in our county should contact the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office at 910-862-6960 and ask for Sgt. Barry Pait or Sgt. Gary Turlington.

“This is a good program,” said Hill.

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