Robbery and Assault Response

Safety Team Training

Two men leaving a Minneapolis Catholic church were attacked and robbed by a group of seven to eight suspects who jumped out of two vehicles, pushed one victim to the ground, and fled. That incident, reported outside St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church near East 45th Street and Third Avenue South, is a sober reminder that transitional spaces like parking lots require our focused attention. Both victims were evaluated on scene and later treated, and police continue to investigate. 

This article equips Safety Team members and Safety Directors with practical steps for Safety Team training for robbery or assault response. The guidance is built on federal best practices for houses of worship and lessons you can drill this month.

Well, the water runs deep, the river runs high,
And the rain keeps pouring down from the sky;
It seems like this might be the day
When everything will be washed away.

The ministry of protection

Churches are open, welcoming places. That calling does not change. Protection is ministry that helps sustain mission. Scripture calls us to act with prudence and courage. Proverbs 22:3 commends those who see danger and take refuge, and Psalm 23 reminds us that God is with us in the valley. Preparing your team is an expression of stewardship and love.

What we are training for: robberies and group or “swarm” assaults

A group assault occurs when multiple offenders work together to overwhelm a victim quickly. In the Minneapolis case, suspects arrived in two vehicles, rapidly approached, used force to take property, and departed. This pattern is designed for speed and confusion. The best defense begins before contact through design, visibility, and presence, and continues during contact with life-safety decisions that prioritize escape and rapid reporting.

Build the plan first

Every Safety Team should operate from a written Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) tailored to your property, services, and volunteers. FEMA and the FBI publish a free planning guide specifically for houses of worship. Use it to clarify roles, communications, medical response, coordination with law enforcement, and post-incident care. 

Action steps to implement now:

• Adopt the houses of worship EOP framework. Start with FEMA’s guide. Customize a robbery and parking-lot annex that covers radio language, 911 prompts, victim care, and scene preservation. Train to the plan and refresh annually.
• Practice layered security. CISA’s “Six Steps to Enhance Security” offers a cost-effective roadmap that preserves a welcoming environment while raising your posture outside and in.

Harden exterior spaces with CPTED

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a proven approach that uses lighting, visibility, access control, and maintenance to reduce opportunities for crime. DOJ COPS provides a practical guide you can apply during a one-hour walk-through.

Use these CPTED layers outside:

• Natural surveillance. Trim shrubs and trees, remove visual blind spots near doors and pedestrian paths, and ensure camera lines of sight are clear. This increases offender perceived risk. 
• Access control. Funnel foot traffic along well-lit, camera-covered walkways. Use cones or bollards near entrances to shape movement and keep people close to light and visibility. 
• Territorial reinforcement and maintenance. Clear signage, visible greeters, and quick repair of lighting or cameras signal guardianship and reduce disorder that can invite crime. 

Parking lot priorities

Parking lots and walkways are transitional spaces where people are distracted and often carrying bags or phones. Prioritize these steps:

1. Lighting and cameras. Aim for consistent, glare-free lighting and camera coverage that captures facial detail and vehicle plates in the lot, not only at doors. Test at night and in rain. 
2. Visible rovers. Schedule two exterior rovers before, during, and especially 20 to 30 minutes after services. Their movement is a deterrent and creates fast reporting when something happens. CISA encourages layered, visible presence that fits open environments.
3. Escort option. Offer a “Safe Walk” to vehicles, especially for solo attendees or those leaving late. Clear signage and a simple request process normalize the help. This aligns with general public safety advice to travel in pairs and stay in populated, well-lit areas. 

Communications that work under stress

When seconds count, simple beats clever. Your team needs the same words, every time.

• Radio cards. Print small cards with your 911 prompt and radio language. Example: “Robbery in progress, north lot, seven to eight suspects, two gray vehicles, leaving eastbound, one injured.” Keep it brief and specific. This mirrors law enforcement priorities for rapid, concise details.
• Suspicious activity reporting. Teach greeters, ushers, and congregants how to report behavior of concern. DHS’s faith community guidance emphasizes informed, alert congregations and clear reporting paths. 

During a robbery or assault: what to do in the moment

Your objective is survival and separation, not property retention or suspect capture. Federal public guidance for attacks in public spaces emphasizes getting away if possible, using cover and concealment if escape is blocked, and fighting only as a last resort. While that guidance is written broadly for violent incidents, the life-safety principles apply to robbery confrontations in open areas.

For congregants and volunteers caught outside:

• Comply when threatened and prioritize life. Property can be replaced. If an opening appears, move toward light, people, or the building. Call 911 when safe.
• Use your voice to summon help. Give clear, simple commands such as “Back up” and “Call 911” while moving. This draws attention without closing distance.
• Protect the head and stay on your feet. Multiple attackers can do the most harm to someone on the ground. Focus on movement that creates an escape lane. (General safety principle consistent with guidance to evacuate when possible.)

For Safety Team members on post:

• Call it out and call 911 immediately. Give the exact location, suspect count, and vehicle descriptions with direction of travel. Keep monitoring from a safe distance. 
• Receive victims inside. Lobby overwatch should prepare to implement a soft lock on exterior doors and guide injured or shaken individuals to safety and care. CISA’s layered approach supports swift internal measures that maintain a calm environment. 

Note: Laws on use of force and citizen’s arrest vary by state. Train your team to prioritize life safety, immediate reporting, and observation. Coordinate policy and training with your local police department and your church’s legal counsel. The federal materials cited here are not legal advice but provide accepted safety frameworks. 

Immediate care and scene management

After the suspects depart, shift to care and coordination.

• Medical first. Control bleeding and treat for shock. DHS encourages Stop the Bleed training and pre-staged kits. Place kits near main exits and with rovers. 
• Preserve the scene. Do not touch dropped items or clean up until police arrive. Keep witnesses present if possible or collect their contact information. Provide separate, independent statements to avoid cross-contamination. (Standard police practice reflected in public guidance for incident reporting and evidence integrity.)
• Activate EOP notifications. Assign one person to liaise with law enforcement, one to coordinate pastoral care, and one to manage internal communications. The FEMA framework supports these role assignments. 

The human side: ministering after a robbery

Trauma can surface minutes, hours, or days later. Your team serves bodies and souls.

• Provide a quiet, secure space. Offer water, a seat, and a calm presence while medical checks occur.
• Engage pastoral care. Ask permission to pray and offer follow-up contact.
• Share next steps. Let victims know what police may ask and who from the church will follow up.
• Avoid blame or interrogation. Encourage victims and witnesses to save their statements for officers and provide facts as they remember them.

This care is part of our witness. It teaches the church that safety is not only about prevention. It is also about compassion and restoration.

Training blocks you can run this quarter

These are sized for volunteer teams and align with the federal guidance cited in this article.

• Parking Lot Rovers Drill (30 minutes). Walk the exterior routes, identify blind spots, practice radio calls, and rehearse receiving victims at the lobby. Use the Minneapolis incident as a scenario: two vehicles arrive, multiple suspects exit, short assault, vehicles flee. 
• Stop the Bleed Workshop (60 to 90 minutes). Hands-on bleeding control, kit placement, and inspection assignments. 
• EOP Tabletop (45 minutes). Work through the robbery annex. Who calls 911. Who locks doors. Who meets police. Who handles witness management and pastoral care. FEMA’s houses of worship guide provides a structure for roles and checklists.
• CPTED Walk-Through (45 minutes). Use the DOJ COPS CPTED guide to document quick wins for lighting, landscaping, and access control. Set deadlines and owners.

What does the Bible say about preparing for harm while staying welcoming

Scripture calls the church to hospitality and prudence. Romans 12 tells us to overcome evil with good. Proverbs urges wise preparation, not fear. Preparation does not replace faith. It expresses it. Our posture is open hearts with watchful eyes. We welcome the stranger and we safeguard the flock entrusted to our care.

Key takeaways

• The Minneapolis robbery shows how quickly group assaults can unfold in church parking lots and walkways. Plan for these transitional spaces. 
• Use FEMA’s houses of worship EOP and CISA’s Six Steps to build a layered, welcoming security posture. 
• Apply CPTED to improve visibility, lighting, and flow. Test cameras and correct blind spots. 
• During an assault, prioritize life safety. Comply when threatened, create distance, call 911, and fight only as a last resort if escape is blocked. 
• After the incident, provide medical care, preserve the scene, support victims, and coordinate with police according to your EOP. 

Call to action

Walk your lot this week with a CPTED checklist. Test camera views at night. Print radio cards with your 911 script. Then schedule a 30-minute rovers drill and a one-hour EOP tabletop that covers robbery response and victim care.

If your church needs a structured path, the Sheepdog Church Security Academy can help. Start with the Safety Member Certification, the Church Safety Program Kit, and the 90-Day Church Safety Launch Plan. These resources equip volunteer teams with practical skills and biblical perspective so you can protect the flock with confidence and compassion.

Sources and further learning

• KSTP local report on the robbery outside St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Minneapolis.
• FEMA and FBI. Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship (free planning guide). 
• CISA. Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence and Houses of Worship security resources. 
• DHS. Safety for Faith-Based Events and Houses of Worship (NSI suspicious activity reporting).
• DOJ COPS. Using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design in Problem-Solving (CPTED guide for practical campus and parking-lot improvements). 
• Ready.gov and FBI. Attacks in Public Spaces and Run Hide Fight materials that emphasize evacuation, cover and concealment, and last-resort defense.