This is from our LIVE show skip to 2 minutes to jump into the topic.

Perhaps one of the most controversial topics a church faces is whether to have a safety and security ministry or not.

I hear this a couple times a month: how can I convince my church to have a safety and security team?

Well, I can tell you why you DON'T need one.... tune in!

• This is taken directly from our LIVE Broadcast (skip forward 90 seconds to get into the show)

alking Points:

- How less-lethal force options are growing in the private security space

- Why should I carry less lethal if I can carry a gun?

- How Byrna is becoming the "one-stop-shop" for self defense options

Originally from the Dallas area, Schirard attended college at Texas Tech University earning Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 2004. Shortly after graduation, Schirard was hired by the Galveston Police Department in January of 2005 where he spent his first five years assigned to patrol. While on patrol, Schirard also served as a Field Training Officer (FTO) and went on to completely redesign the department's current Field Training Program that it uses to train new Officers. In 2010, Schirard had the opportunity to serve as Galveston Police Department's Training Coordinator for two years until he was promoted to Sergeant in April of 2012.

As a Sergeant, Schirard served several years as a patrol supervisor and in administration where he helped design and launch the Office of Professional Standards, Education and Training; a unit built to prioritize training officers over disciplining them. He severed in that role until he was promoted to Lieutenant in 2015 where he took command of a patrol shift. In April 2017 Schirard was then again promoted to Captain where he served as the Operations Bureau Commander for the department until his retirement.

Schirard was also a member of Galveston SWAT from 2006 until 2019, and was the Team's Commander from 2016-2019. During his time on the team, he has served in the entry team as point, the sniper team, and as the sniper team leader over the course of hundreds of operations. This experience has allowed him several opportunities to train all around the country with some of this nation’s finest police officers and SWAT operators as well as numerous members from the military's special operations community.

Schirard has also been an adjunct instructor with the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training program through Texas State University since 2012 and travels throughout the country training police officers how to response to active shooter events. After his role as the Tactical Operations Director at the Santa Fe High School Shooting in May of 2018, Schirard has also keynoted several national conferences including the ALERRT national conference on "Commanding in Chaos". Schirard is also a published author whose most important work appeared in a peer reviewed journal covering the importance and methodology to work towards the integration of police and medical services during active shooter response.

In 2020, Schirard was recruited by Byrna Technologies to lead a team charged with starting the Law Enforcement and Private Security division of Byrna, a publicly traded non-lethal weapons company. Since his onboarding, the company has experience exponential growth in both the consumer and Law Enforcement space going from $1.6 million in sales to over $40 million in the span of just two years.

Schirard also proudly served in the Texas Army National Guard as an Infantry Lieutenant in the 3rd Battallion, 141st Infantry from 2012 to 2016. In his off time Schirard is also a nationally competitive skydiver as well as a commercial pilot.

This is a LIVE cast made into a podcast (skip forward to bypass opening)

Join us as we talk with Stephen Bennett regarding firearms in church and the new Texas Law. Retired U. S. Marine. Retired college teacher. NRA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer. NRA Certified Host for Refuse to Be a Victim Seminars.

Talking Points:

- Texas Permitless Carry Law(s)

- Need for Safety Training

- Need for Personal Protection With a Firearm Training

Baz is known as “the Patron Saint for Missing Kids.” He is a former CIA Intelligence Special Operations Group Paramilitary Case Officer, recipient of the Intelligence Commendation Medal, former counter-terrorism officer in the United States Marine Corps and a graduate of The Citadel. He currently contracts as a “life guarantor” for people entering high threat environments.

In 1993 Baz founded the Association for the Recovery of Children (ARC), an organization of former and active intelligence, military, and law enforcement personnel dedicated to the recovery of missing and exploited American children in foreign and domestic locations. In 2019, on invitation of the White House and DOJ, Baz introduced ARC’s legislative initiative involving severe penalties for those who sexually exploit any child under the age of 18 in the U.S.

Baz is well known globally for his expertise and extraordinary skill set. Author of "Terrorism Survival Handbook" and several other books, he has been called on by CNN, CNBC and MSNBC as an advisor and spokesperson on the war on Terrorism and Homeland Security. He is also a film and television writer, producer and actor. Bazzel Baz co-starred as the commander of Raymond Reddington’s paramilitary group on NBC’s "The BLACKLIST" for four seasons.

As a Life Coach and a well sought after motivational speaker, Baz travels nationally and internationally to provide breakthroughs to awesome performance with an uncanny ability to bring simple solutions to complicated scenarios.

LEARN MORE:

http://recoveryofchildren.org/index.htm

Colton Johnson has an entrepreneurial mind and a servant’s heart. By attending both Central Baptist College where he received a background in biblical studies, and finishing his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree at the University of Central Arkansas, Colton is equipped to serve his clients as a risk manager who is also actively involved in ministry. Colton has and continues to serve the church in a variety of roles, including praise and worship leader, college Sunday school teacher, and assistant children’s minister.

As a Territory Manager, Colton continually ranks amongst the top agents nationwide, and in 2018 was awarded as Brotherhood Mutual's Rookie of the Year. As both a risk manager and ministry partner, he places an emphasis on the idea that leaders are learners and is actively pursuing his certification as a Certified Insurance Counsellor.

Colton also loves spending time outdoors with his wife and daughter, and as an avid weather watcher enjoys tracking storms across the state.

Scenario based learning is a training approach designed with the participants in mind. When done correctly, it aligns with the job performance students are expected to achieve once the training is complete.

New tasks or procedures are simulated during the training, immersing learners into situations where they are allowed to practice skills, safely learn from their mistakes and acquire valuable experience. Because this type of training is more relevant to the learner, participants are often more motivated to learn which accelerates their expertise.

Join us as we discuss the importance of scenario based training and we'll give you the '8 Great' Benefits of Scenario-Based Training!

Jimmy Meeks is a retired police officer, having served 35 years in law-enforcement. Jimmy has also been a minister for over 47 years. As an officer, he served as a hostage negotiator, field training officer, school resource officer, detective, supervisor, and crime prevention officer. He has accumulated over 4500 hours of TCOLE training. He has also been a certified crime prevention specialist.

He was pastor of a church in the Ft. Worth area for over 11 years, while also serving as a police officer. Jimmy has a B.A. in Religion from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Certificate of Ministry from Emmaus Road Ministry School. He has conducted over 350 seminars for churches since 2009, at which over thousands of churches have been represented. It has been said of his presentation, "...there has never been a stronger call to action..."

Jimmy and his wife of 43 years, Julie, were married at the First Baptist Church of Daingerfield, Texas, the sight of the June 22, 1980 massacre that killed 5 - and injured 10. Jimmy was also a production assistant in the award-winning docudrama Faith Under Fire, based on the tragedy at First Baptist Church in Daingerfield, Texas.

Rick started his public service career in the Army in 1977 and in the civilian world as a Baytown TX policeman. Joining the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO), Austin TX, in 1986; Rick worked his way up through the ranks as the agency grew from a few hundred to over fifteen hundred personnel. Command positions included: Homicide, SWAT, White Collar Crime, Computer Forensics, Family Violence, Child Abuse, Intelligence, Crime Lab, 911-Communications, School Resource Officer, Canine (K-9), Lake Patrol, Traffic, Patrol Platoons, and the Field Training Program. In 1992, Rick formed a (part-time) training and consulting firm and began instructing and consulting on Field Training Programs across the country. Expanding over the years to include investigative and leadership topics, evolving to an international presence.

​After retiring from TCSO, Rick was the CEO of Columbia County. Among his accomplishments were the adoptions of a multi-million dollar budget after just one meeting and a dispatcher contract in two.

Rick’s administrative experience includes: directing high profile investigative units, SWAT, managing multi-million dollar budgets, employee compensation programs, and equipment solutions. Incident Command during natural disasters such as the Jarrell tornado, hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and events with influxes of over 60,000 attendees. As a member of the Operations Board for the Combined Transportation Emergency Communications Center (CTECC), Austin TX, he was part of a multi-jurisdictional team which brought to realization a regional digital radio and mobile data system that serves over a million people.

​His technical expertise includes: assessing unit efficiencies, design, review and implementation of training programs, instructor development, and investigative training and consultation. As a mentor and trainer, he created a Field Training Program singularly used by TCSO. His Officer in Training (OIT) model is widely adopted by agencies across the country.

Through Forensic Statement Analysis, Rick consults in high profile cases to detect deception in statements and interviews with agencies and firms across the country.

​Achievements:

Bachelor degree from Midwestern State University in Criminal Justice and Public Administration

​Graduate of the FBI National Academy (197)

​Graduate of the Leadership and Command College of Texas (23)

​Certified Public Manager

​Certified National Incident Management System (NIMS) Instructor

​Certified National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Center Manager

Twice Published International Law Enforcement Educator & Trainers Journal (ILEETA)

Recognized Subject Matter Expert in Forensic Investigations, Leadership, and Field Training

Regular Instructor for the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT)

Commendations for Outstanding Leadership