FORT PAYNE, Ala. — The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has announced an upcoming Church Security Training Program aimed at helping local churches proactively protect their congregations, facilities and faith communities.
Sheriff Nick Welden said the program is designed to provide church leaders, security teams and volunteers with professional-level guidance on safeguarding places of worship while maintaining a welcoming environment.
The training will be led by Capt. Nathaniel Bates of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, who brings 16 years of law enforcement experience and extensive advanced training. Bates previously served as deputy commander of the Narcotics and Criminal Interdiction Unit, specializing in surveillance operations, intelligence gathering and covert enforcement activities. His background includes proactive criminal interdiction, threat identification and operational planning in high-risk environments. Bates is an FBI-certified firearms instructor and an advanced SWAT and hostage rescue instructor, with years of experience in tactical operations and protective security details.
Assisting with the training is Sgt. Nick Turner, a 14-year law enforcement veteran who is also an FBI-certified firearms instructor and an advanced SWAT and hostage rescue instructor. Turner specializes in school protection and security consulting and brings experience relevant to safeguarding public and community spaces.
Both Bates and Turner currently serve as team leaders on the DeKalb County Special Response Team, providing real-world tactical leadership and operational experience for the program.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the course will focus on threat assessments, development of church-specific security plans, and effective surveillance and camera system setups to enhance early detection and deterrence. Participants will also take part in hands-on, scenario-based training using non-lethal training ammunition, allowing teams to practice realistic decision-making under stress in a controlled environment.
Officials said the training emphasizes prevention, preparedness and coordinated response using proven best practices employed by law enforcement and protective security teams. Training sessions will be held at participating churches to allow instruction to be tailored to each facility.
“Church safety is a shared responsibility, and this training represents a proactive step toward protecting families, children and faith communities,” Welden said. “Our goal is to help churches prepare, not panic. This training will give churches the tools to protect their loved ones while preserving the welcoming and peaceful nature of worship.”
Churches interested in additional information or scheduling a training date can contact the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office at 256-845-3801.