Draft:Church Security Department

• Comment: The draft is written as though someone affiliated with the organization wrote it (not entirely clinically). It's also not the best sourced; does anyone else other than LDS and Salt Lake City Tribune write about the security department. All that in combination with the fact you could probably write about the security department in the main LDS article causes me to decline the draft. I dream of horses (Hoofprints) (Neigh at me) 03:52, 1 October 2024 (UTC)

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The Church Security Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is a specialized unit responsible for ensuring the safety and security of church leaders, employees, facilities, and worshippers around the world. With operations in over 150 countries, the department handles a wide range of responsibilities, including crisis management, investigations, physical security, and personal protection for senior church officials, such as the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

History

The Church Security Department was established to address the growing needs of a global church. Over the years, as the LDS Church expanded its footprint through temples, meetinghouses, and other properties, security operations grew in scope and sophistication. The department was formally organized to provide a structured approach to security across the many facets of church operations.

In its early years, the Church Security Department was primarily focused on protecting church headquarters and key leaders in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over time, the department expanded its purview to cover the entire worldwide church, adapting to new challenges, including global events and evolving security threats. Today, it works closely with local law enforcement and emergency responders to ensure the safety of LDS Church members and facilities.

Responsibilities

The Church Security Department oversees several key areas of security for the church:

• Executive Protection: Church security officers are responsible for protecting senior leadership, including members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, during public appearances and while they are conducting church business.

• Crisis Management: The department operates a comprehensive crisis management framework to respond to emergencies, such as natural disasters, threats to church facilities, or significant security risks involving church members or leaders.

• Physical Security: Church buildings, including temples, meetinghouses, and other properties, are monitored and secured by church security personnel. Many of these buildings feature advanced security technology, including surveillance cameras, alarms, and restricted access controls.

• Investigations and Intelligence: The department conducts investigations into security breaches and other incidents involving church properties. It also provides research and analysis on security risks in different countries to support the global operations of the church.

• Training and Preparedness: The Church Security Department maintains a specialized training program for its personnel. The training covers a wide range of topics, including firearms proficiency, defensive tactics, de-escalation techniques, and emergency response. In 2019, it was reported that the LDS Church was planning to build a new training center in Salt Lake City, complete with two firing ranges, to further enhance the training of its security officers.

Structure and personnel

The department is overseen by a Managing Director and Chief Security Officer (CSO), a role currently held by J. Gregory Dunn, who has extensive experience in security and law enforcement, including prior service as a Special Agent with the FBI. The department consists of approximately 200 professional officers stationed globally, many of whom come from law enforcement or military backgrounds.

Church security officers must meet specific qualifications, including background checks and mental-fitness evaluations. Additionally, officers assigned to protect senior leaders and secure church properties are often required to undergo rigorous training and certification in firearms and defensive tactics.

The department operates from the church’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, where the Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) monitors church facilities in more than 35 countries through real-time video surveillance and responds to potential security threats.

Training center

In 2019, plans were leaked for the construction of a new Church Security Department Training Center in Salt Lake City. The proposed facility, part of an existing church warehouse, would feature two firing ranges—one for handguns and another for rifles—along with classrooms, defensive tactics training areas, and a use-of-force simulator. This facility reflects the church's ongoing commitment to providing specialized, high-level training for its security personnel, ensuring they are prepared to handle a wide range of security challenges.

Interaction with law enforcement

While the Church Security Department operates independently, it often works in conjunction with local, national, and international law enforcement agencies, especially during events such as General Conference, which draws thousands of visitors to Salt Lake City. The department’s officers support police, fire, and other emergency personnel in handling incidents that may arise during large gatherings or in response to specific threats.

Church policy also advises worshippers to refrain from carrying firearms on church property, with the exception of authorized security personnel. This policy is in place to maintain the church’s commitment to safety and security in its sacred spaces.

Controversies

The Church Security Department has occasionally been involved in publicized incidents. One notable case occurred in 2009, when a gay couple was detained by church security officers for what was described as “inappropriate behavior” after they shared a kiss on the church-owned Main Street Plaza in Salt Lake City. The couple, believing they were on public property, were later released, and the charges were dropped by the city prosecutor. This incident sparked widespread debate about the role of church security in public and private spaces and led to protests and demonstrations.