Sheriff Nehls Offers Security Checks After Mass Church Shooting

RICHMOND, TX — The senseless massacre of 26 people inside a Sutherland Springs church on Nov. 5 has prompted Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls to offer physical security checks to churches in Fort Bend County.

Hours after Devin Patrick Kelley walked into the First Baptist Church in a rural Wilson County town, and began randomly killing parishioners, Nehls sent out a tweet offering security inspections.

"Hopefully there will be some churches that will take our offer," Nehls told the Houston Chronicle. "Unfortunately, in today's environment, we have to try to help prepare churches and others for the worst, hoping you never need to implement that plan."

The safety checks will include a physical security evaluation of entry and exit points in each church, as well as providing the best plan of action, KPRC reported.

Church leaders can contact the sheriff's office at 281-238-1536.

The Sutherland Springs massacre was the third shooting at a church since 2015, and the second this year.

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In June 2015, Dylann Roof, a white supremacist, walked into the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina during a Bible study, and murdered nine African-Americans.

In September, Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, shot and killed 39-year old Melanie Smith outside the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Nashville, before going into the church and shooting six others.

As a result, some churches have begun preparing plans to prevent tragedies like Sutherland Springs from happening again.

In Houston, larger churches, such Second Baptist Church — the largest church in Houston — have onsite security, and Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church has armed uniformed and plainclothes security officers to protect their parishioners, KHOU reported.

However, smaller churches can't afford security, so Nehls and other Houston area law enforcement officials are stepping up to help.

Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen is hosting a meeting of area pastors and church leaders on Nov. 8 at at 6 p.m. in downtown Houston at 1302 Preston, 4th floor.

Meanwhile, Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable Rowdy Hayden announced hours after the shooting that his office is developing a plan to provide security inspections for churches, as well as teaching armed and unarmed parishioners how to properly deal with an active shooter situation.

As those plans are developed and agencies begin the process of teaching and evaluating churches, law enforcement officials urge everyone to be more situationally aware, and be observant of your surroundings and the people in the area.

"Be aware of your surroundings and being able to do something if a situation unfolds," Sgt. Carlos Castillo with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office told KPRC.

Image: Official Protrait, FBSO

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