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Security Services for Houses of Worship
Security, safety, and investigative services for houses of worship in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.
I am Zach Baumgart, a paramedic and former federal special agent with more than 25 years of public safety and law enforcement experience. About me
Independent Advice, with Nothing to Sell
I do not sell security guards, alarms, cameras, or any other products or equipment. I only provide my services, so my advice is never tied to something I am selling. My only interest is giving you honest advice and the best client service.
How I Help Houses of Worship
I serve houses of worship of every faith, denomination, and size, including churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, gurdwaras, and other places of worship, from small congregations to multi-campus organizations.
Security Director on Demand
- On-demand security advice for pastoral staff and leadership teams, without the overhead of a full-time employee.
- I act as your dedicated liaison with law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies.
- I conduct independent, confidential investigations of sensitive organizational matters.
- I give travel security advice and practical training for mission and group travelers.
- I conduct threat assessments and threat investigations, and I develop threat mitigation plans as part of your contract.
Threat Assessment and Management
- Houses of worship across the United States faced 841 attacks in 2024, and firearms were involved in 13% of them. Source: Faith-Based ISAO, 2024 Threat Data Review and Analysis
- I assess and investigate threats from irate, threatening, or aggressive individuals and others, and help you decide how to respond before a situation escalates.
- I develop threat management and mitigation plans, and I coordinate with law enforcement as appropriate.
Emergency Procedures
- I audit, test, and review your sanctuary security, usher and security protocols, office security, and emergency plans.
- I develop and update contingency plans for threats, Active Threat Response (commonly referred to as active shooter or armed intruder training), medical emergencies, disruptions, and severe weather.
- I lead training and drills for your staff and your security team.
Physical Security Audits
- An independent audit of your sanctuaries, ministry areas, children's and youth areas, perimeters, offering collection procedures, facilities, and parking lots.
- I identify gaps, vulnerabilities, and risks, and I develop actionable solutions that balance a welcoming environment with security.
- I review check-in and pick-up procedures for nurseries, children's programs, and youth programs.
Background Investigations
- Rigorous, multi-jurisdictional background screening of staff, administrators, and volunteers in sensitive positions, including those who work with children and youth.
- I use proprietary databases that are available only to licensed firms, and I analyze the results myself as a former law enforcement officer to find red flags that automatic and instant background check services miss.
How It Works
Initial Consultation
A confidential consultation by phone or virtual meeting lasting about 15 minutes. The consultation is complimentary.
Scope and Contract
I recommend the services that fit your congregation's needs, and a written contract sets out the scope and terms.
Work and Reports
I work with you and your team to conduct the agreed-upon work, provide regular updates, and produce final reports.
Ready to talk it through? The initial consultation is complimentary.
My Experience
I spent more than 25 years in public safety and federal law enforcement, working as a paramedic, a firefighter, a local law enforcement officer, and a federal special agent. As a federal special agent, I provided threat assessment and management for senior officials and worked on security programs and emergency planning for U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. As a paramedic, I know how to respond when someone in a congregation needs medical help.
I understand that a house of worship should stay welcoming, so I look for security measures that fit your mission and your budget. I have the skills to confidentially, discreetly, and thoroughly handle sensitive allegations and internal matters. I am a Nationally Registered Paramedic (NRP) and a licensed Virginia private investigator (DCJS), and I was trained as an instructor by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency and the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Training Center. Learn more about my background.
Where I Work
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need all five services?
No. Each of my services is available individually or as part of a Security Director on Demand contract.
Who does the work?
I do all of the work myself. I do not hand your project to subcontractors.
Do you sell guards, cameras, or alarms?
No. I do not sell security guards, alarms, cameras, or any other products or equipment, so my advice for your houses of worship is independent.
Do you provide armed guards, and what about armed volunteers?
No. I do not provide armed guards or security officers, and I do not sell products. Instead, I provide services such as Security Director on Demand, threat assessment and management, and emergency procedures to help you prevent and respond to problems. I can also audit your facilities, investigate concerns, and train your staff and volunteers to carry out your plans.
If your congregation uses volunteer security team members who carry firearms, I can evaluate the team's role, protocols, and training. Allowing armed volunteers is a significant decision with legal and insurance implications, so I recommend consulting your attorney and insurance carrier. I do not provide legal advice.
Can you help our volunteer safety or usher team?
Yes. I review and develop written protocols for greeting, observation, communication, medical emergencies, and emergency response, and I train your ushers and volunteers and run drills with them. My goal is a team that stays welcoming while it is prepared to act.
How much does it cost?
The cost depends on the services you choose and the size and needs of your congregation. As an example, a medium-sized, single-location house of worship would pay approximately $850 per month over the course of the year under a Security Director on Demand contract and would receive: a full review and updates to all emergency plans, monthly meetings and updates, monthly drills and/or training as needed, reviews of operations to ensure compliance with security plans, unlimited consultations on investigative matters, up to two initial threat assessments every month, and the ability to contact me on an as-needed basis during typical business hours.
The services listed above are just one example of what the Security Director on Demand contract covers. During our initial consultations, I can work to tailor the contract to your specific needs. For example, I can add ten Level 2 background investigations of staff, teachers, and volunteers to use over the 12 months.
Can you work around our services and events?
Yes. I schedule audits and training around your services, classes, and events, and I look at how your facilities work when they are full as well as when they are empty.
Can security stay welcoming?
Yes. I balance security against your mission, your budget, and your day-to-day operations. I develop solutions that protect your people without making your congregation feel unwelcome.
How do you help with disruptive or threatening individuals?
I help you plan for them before they appear. I develop de-escalation guidance and written procedures for your staff, ushers, and volunteers, and I train them to carry out those procedures. When someone makes a threat or behaves in a concerning way, I assess and investigate the threat and help you decide how to respond before the situation escalates. I coordinate with law enforcement as appropriate.
Can you help with children's and youth ministry safety?
Yes. I audit check-in and pick-up procedures for nurseries, children's programs, and youth programs, and I train your staff and volunteers to follow them. I assess and investigate threats from irate, threatening, or aggressive individuals, including custody disputes and unauthorized pickup attempts. I can also conduct background investigations of staff and volunteers who work with children and youth, including volunteers under 18 with parental or guardian consent. During our initial discussions, I can recommend what level of background investigation fits each role.
Can you investigate sensitive internal matters or allegations?
Yes. I conduct confidential investigations of allegations, policy violations, and other sensitive matters, and I provide written findings. Serious allegations involving a child or a crime should be reported to law enforcement or child protective services, and I coordinate with them as appropriate.
Do you work with all faiths and denominations?
Yes. I serve houses of worship of every faith, denomination, and size, and I tailor my recommendations to your traditions, worship practices, and facilities.
Can you help multi-campus congregations?
Yes. I can audit each campus, develop consistent emergency plans and protocols across your locations, and train the staff and volunteers at each one, scheduled around each campus's services and events.
Prefer to Start with One Project?
Each of my services is available individually or as part of a Security Director on Demand contract. Sensitive matters can often lead to or also require private investigations, and houses of worship can often benefit from training, background investigations of staff and volunteers in sensitive positions, threat assessment, and travel security briefings for mission groups. See my full list of services.
I serve houses of worship across Northern Virginia, including Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and towns such as Ashburn, Leesburg, Herndon, and Vienna. See my full service area.