Religious leader responds to Governor Abbott creating task force to bolster security at houses of worship

TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) - Governor Abbott has ordered DPS to create a task force that will up security at religious spaces across the state.

This in the wake of violence on houses of worship like what just took place in Michigan.

The task force will be made up of state troopers, special agents in criminal investigation and Texas Rangers, along with working with local departments across the state.

Chase Bowers is the lead teaching pastor at Temple Bible Church and says they have security outside their facility for quite some time.

“For many years, TBC has had a paid security team made up of state officers, county deputies and people from our local police departments,” Bowers says.

However, not every church has a big enough budget and he says everyone deserves to feel safe when they worship.

“I appreciate that and I’m grateful because I feel like everyone should be able to worship in a way that is secure and safe,” he explains.

Bowers explains learning of the violence that took place in Michigan and how it strikes a nerve for any believer.

“I just felt incredibly sad for all the families involved. It’s a frightening moment and it happens in a house of worship, that’s of course incredibly important to our lives, that’s frightening,” Bowers says. “This shouldn’t happen. Violence against humanity is not the way it’s supposed to be and we hate when it happens and we grieve when it happens.”

While operational specifics can’t be detailed, officials with DPS tell KWTX that it will include personnel bolstering safety at numerous locations and include more training for targeted violence and terrorism prevention.

DPS’ response to KWTX when asked for an on-camera interview is as follows:

We respectfully decline your interview request. Please see the information we’re able to provide below.

In the wake of violent attacks against people and places of faith across the nation, and at the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has created a statewide task force to protect religious spaces. The task force – made up of Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Troopers, Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Special Agents and Texas Rangers, and supported by the department’s Homeland Security Division (HSD) – will work alongside local and federal law enforcement partners to identify potential and emerging threats and prevent attacks in and around places of worship.

While the department is not able to discuss operational specifics, we can tell you that work is already happening across the state. DPS’ HSD personnel are in contact with members of specific faith-based coalitions and associations to provide information and resources. Analysts across the state are sharing intelligence with law enforcement partners at all levels to increase coordination and enhance effectiveness when it comes to thwarting attacks. Moving forward, Troopers will be providing additional, visible law enforcement presence in and around houses of worship and other faith-based campuses. DPS personnel will play an active role in bolstering safety at numerous locations, conducting walk-throughs and offering input to help houses of worship or religious community spaces maintain safety and security standards. Troopers are also being asked to complete computer-based tasks from their patrol units near houses of worship or in areas where religious groups are gathering when they are able.

In the coming months, DPS’ HSD will bolster its efforts to provide Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) training. TVTP training is specifically tailored to religious groups and faith-based organizations, providing formal instruction on pre-attack indicators, reporting options and available resources within their community to prevent targeted violence and terrorism. DPS’ HSD is making TVTP resource handouts available to religious groups and organizations in every region of Texas. These handouts include information – in both English and Spanish – about the iWatchTexas Community Reporting System and other mental health and law enforcement reporting resources. These handouts will also be carried by task force members. This information can be found on the DPS website, here.

Finally, Texans are reminded to use iWatchTexas to report any suspicious activities or behaviors in and around their schools, places of worship and communities that may indicate criminal, terroristic or school safety-related threats. iWatchTexas reports can be made via the mobile app, online at iWatchTexas.org or by calling 1-844-643-2251. All reports are confidential and reviewed by law enforcement analysts. 

Some indicators of suspicious activity or behavior that should be reported to iWatchTexas include, but are not limited to:

• Scouting or repeatedly loitering in and around religious spaces or houses of worship
• Asking questions about security operations without a need to know, or checking doors and locks at religious spaces or houses of worship
• Making hostile remarks or becoming radicalized against a specific faith
• Unusual or suspicious purchases

iWatch Texas is not designed to report emergencies. If a situation requires an emergency response, please call 911.

You can read more about the Governor’s task force announcement here.

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