What would you do if you felt threatened in a public place? What is the first step you would take if you were confronted with an aggressive person whose goal was to hurt as many people as possible in the shortest period of time?

No one likes to think of these kinds of scenarios playing out in our everyday lives, but the headlines tell us such situations are happening more and more frequently in our society.

On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Sgt. Jeff Cook, training supervisor for the Covington Police Department, gave two presentations in the undercroft at Mother of God Church about how to deal with an active assailant—in the grocery store, a concert or even in our own worship space. A total of about 65 people attended the two sessions, including greeters and ushers who represent our first line of defense.

Cook offered many practical tips that could help you survive an active assailant’s attack.

• Discourage assailants by making yourself or your venue look like a difficult target. This includes having well-lit premises, tracking who has access to keys, locking car doors and not leaving valuables in plain sight.
• Cultivate situational awareness. Make note of exits, including windows, and potential barriers you can put between you and an assailant. Identify objects that could be used as weapons of defense (an umbrella, a purse, a folding chair, etc.). Pay attention to who enters and exits the room or area.
• Greet people as they come through the door or sit near you. Make eye contact and be welcoming. Notice if the person mirrors the tone of your greeting. Says Cook, “You can glean a lot of information about a person just by saying ‘hello.’ If something seems ‘off,’ discreetly alert an usher.
• Run! Hide! Fight! When an assailant attacks, your first priority is to run and escape as quickly as possible. If you can’t escape, find a hiding place—preferably one with a door that can be locked or barricaded. Turn off lights and phones that can give your position away. Fighting should be your last resort. Work with others as a team, if you can (make a plan). Your goal is to control the assailant’s weapon.

It's worth noting that one of the tenets of our Parish Purpose Statement is to welcome the stranger with love and compassion. We never want to sacrifice that approach in favor of suspicion and paranoia.

Says Cook, “The majority of people are good. There’s only a very small percentage who are out there causing trouble. So don’t think the bogeyman is around every corner. These precautions are to help you if you do encounter someone with ill intent. At any time, if you feel like a situation is escalating beyond the point where you’re comfortable, call 911, and we will gladly respond.”