Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 01 August 2023

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against, and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Gate 15’s Weekly Security Sprint

Weekly Security Sprint EP 27. New SEC Rules and cybersecurity for everyone, not-so-subtle China cyber threat foot-stomping plus anger, radicalization and political violence, the critical-ist of infrastructure and…so much more!

TBI investigating after shooting outside Jewish school prompts lockdown

A man was shot by police after investigators say he fired shots outside the Margolin Hebrew Academy in Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday afternoon. Police say the suspect tried to enter the building but couldn’t get inside. “When he could not gain entry, he fired shots outside the school,” Memphis Police Assistant Chief Don Crowe said. No one was injured at the school.

The suspect then fled in his truck. Police spotted the suspect’s vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Law enforcement said the man got out of the pickup truck with a gun in his hand and was shot by an officer. The suspect was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

“It’s just a sobering reminder that it can happen anywhere, it can happen to anyone,” said Gila Golder.

Analyst Comment:

The U.S. continues to experience an increasing number of active shooter events. In 2023, there have been 419 mass shootings. The number of mass shootings this year has already surpassed the total number that occurred in all of 2019, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. Assailants, typically those motivated by violent extremist ideology, continue to target Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) and religious minorities, necessitating that FBOs continue to reevaluate their security plans, policies, and procedures in light of the heightened threat environment.

The shooting yesterday highlights the importance of strong access controls as a foundational physical security measure. The inability of the suspect to gain access to the school certainly prevented a potentially tragic mass casualty event. Furthermore, ensuring your organization has an updated emergency action plan (EAP), that is exercised regularly, is another important security protocol. Lastly, establishing a working relationship with local law enforcement can greatly enhance an organization’s security posture and reduce operational friction when officers are responding to a real-world incident.

CISA’s Protecting Houses of Worship Resources provide valuable tools and information on protecting FBOs. In addition, CISA’s Active Shooter Emergency Action Plan Product Suite describes the fundamental concepts of developing an EAP for an active shooter scenario.