TexasCHLforum.com

ScottDLS wrote:Are there any churches that have licensed as security companies with the State? Of course this would require lots of money and probably a lot of insurance...and easier just to hire off duty LEO or a licensed company.

Yes there are two kinds: Form a security company or operate under an LOA. An Letter of Authority allows a business (or church in this case) to do uniformed security. The limitations of this is that you cannot have Level IV (personal protection i.e. non uniform) and you are limited to church property only. You cannot provide security to a person or group from your church offsite. With Level IV you can provide personal protection for your pastor or other protectee when he goes off site like to a hosptial or visiting high crime areas.

My church has done all the above. We started out as employees of an established security company and then switched to a different one. We then did the LOA and now have our own company. We needed more freedom than working for an outside company would allow us. With the LOA you still have to have insurance but we wanted to have Lev IV and you cannot with an LOA.

Steve Lebe wrote:Has anybody ever been charged, much less convicted, for carrying under their LTC while an unpaid volunteer for a neighborhood watch or church security group?

When I took my Lev III & IV security class for our church in 2010 we were told by our instructor that a church in Dallas was reported to DPS and ended up paying a fine for operating an illegal security company. I just tried to Google for it real quick but didn't find anything. However, DPS has an Opinion Summary on church security located here: https://www.dps.texas.gov/rsd/psb/Laws/psb_opin_sum.htm. A church or person could be at risk if someone got mad and reported the church or if an incident occurs that requires LEO investigation. If it is revealed that the person/church was providing unlicensed security services then be prepared.

I know that Charles tried to get a bill through to exempt churches but it didn't get out of committee if I remember correctly. The security industry is staunchly opposed to a church exemption. It's sad because most small and medium churches cannot afford to hire security (in house or contract) or off duty LEO's. Churches should be allowed to organize armed volunteers.