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POLICE HOST 1ST HOUSES OF WORSHIP SECURITY SEMINAR


South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka praised the cooperation and partnership that took place today at the first South Brunswick House of Worship Security Seminar. The seminar hosted by South Brunswick Police and Office of Emergency Management went over the planning and preparation needed to handle a critical incident like an active shooter situation.

The seminar, attended by 18 representatives from 11 houses of worship, was created to assist in the development of Emergency Operation Plans (EOP) to be used in the event of an emergency. Attendees learned about appropriate response strategies to various types of critical incidents, and were trained in South Brunswick Police Department’s Active Shooter Awareness Program (ASAP), a highly successful program designed to educate attendees on actions they may take if faced with an active aggressor.

Office of Emergency Management Lieutenant Gene Rickle guided the attendees through a two-hour discussion on preparing an organization’s staff and building to support their EOP. Attendees remarked that, after attending the seminar, they were better prepared to create their organization’s EOP, as well as manage an emergency.

Chief Hayducka said, “We all hope that disaster does not strike our community, but hope is not a plan. Today’s training was only the start of our engagement with our faith leaders. We will support our houses of worship and help them navigate a process that was unthinkable years ago."