The Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region (ADL), which has offered security training to Jewish sites for many years, has recently been organizing safety trainings with other faith groups, particularly following the murders at a Charleston, South Carolina church last summer. ADL Assistant Director Jeremy Shaver recently discussed the League’s efforts with Colorado Public Radio.

“The audiences have been very diverse,” Shaver said. “We’ve seen representatives from Roman Catholic congregations, Evangelical congregations, synagogues, temples. It’s been very encouraging to see the diversity of the audiences.”

Shaver says many houses of worship are taking security seriously because many are used for a variety of community events. “Representatives from houses of worship understand that security is really something that needs to be part of their daily operations,” Shaver said, “not just at special holidays.”

For information or to schedule a training, please contact the Mountain States Regional Office at 303-830-7177.