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  • Texas CHL Holders and Church Security Teams
 
Wednesday, 18 March 2015 / Published in The Archives

Texas CHL Holders and Church Security Teams

By John-Michael Gillaspy |  G2 Security Solutions

 

At least 4 or more times a month I get a call, email, or text regarding whether a CHL holder can legally provide security as part of a church security team. As both a CHL training school as well as a state licensed security academy, we are uniquely poised to answer this type of question. Before I get into the technical aspect, the answer is a definite NO. A CHL holder may not provide armed security using their CHL for a church security team or any other business/nonprofit.

To start, what would you need to legally provide security services to a church or business? You would generally need:

  • A state license as a security contractor (Texas Occupations Code 1702.102)
  • An individual Security Officer license (Texas Occupations Code 1702.222)
  • Depending on the license you may need a distinct DPS approved security uniform

There are two types of licenses a church could get to legally have security officers providing security services. The first is a license as a guard company. This would allow them to both provide security for themselves as well as contract to other businesses to provide security services. This wouldn’t make much sense for a church. The second, is a private letter of authority (PLOA). This allows the church to create an in house security department with armed security officers. Both licenses have the same general requirements to start. To get licensed as a guard company/PLOA you must have insurance and what is called a Qualified Manager. A Qualified Manager is someone who has at least three years of licensed security experience with two of those years being verifiable experience in a supervisory role. The Qualified Manager candidate then must pass an exam with DPS in Austin. Upon passing, they can be licensed as a Qualified Manager for the guard company/PLOA.

Once the company license is taken into account, you must also consider the personal licenses required to provide security. A security officer has an individual license that is registered under the company license or PLOA. There are three types of security officer licenses in Texas:

  • Level II Non Commissioned Officer: This license requires a 6 hour all classroom based course, and an FBI background check. A Non Commissioned Security Officer is unarmed and must wear a distinctive DPS approved uniform. The main purpose of this type of officer is the phrase most associated with security, Observe and Report. You are generally there to be a good witness.

 

  • Level III Commissioned Security Officer: This license requires the previous Level II course, a 40 hour Level III course, and the prior FBI background check. The training for this license consists of classroom, defense tactics, handcuffing, and firearms training. A Commissioned Security Officer openly carries a handgun and may also carry a baton, chemical dispensing device (OC), Taser, etc. Commissioned Officers also must wear a distinct DPS approved uniform and can at no time conceal their weapon while on duty and/or in uniform. The main purpose of this type of officer is to actively prevent and deter crime. Observe and report is now a secondary function and the officer is to actively protect the clients and property in accordance with clients procedures as well as state/federal law.

 

  • Level IV Personal Protection Officer: This license requires all previous training and the FBI background check. The training for this license consists of 15 hours of additional law, defense tactics, and OC training. In addition to the training and background check a PPO must also submit an MMPI (psych test) administered by a Texas Psychologist. A PPO is the ONLY security officer that may carry a concealed weapon. When on duty a PPO generally wears plain clothes, because they are the only license type that may do so and they want to blend in. If in plain clothes, they must carry their weapon concealed. If providing service in uniform the same rules apply as a commissioned officer and the weapon must be carried openly. The main purpose of this type of license is direct protection of a client or clients IE: Priest, preacher, etc.

 

 

 

Without going through the proper licensing procedures to provide security a CHL holder opens themselves up to large amounts of legal liability. Firstly, you can be charged with “Impersonating Security Officer” (Texas Occupations Code 1702.3875), providing security services without a company license (1702.388), and if you use your firearm you may have lost your justification for deadly force because you are breaking the law (Texas Penal Code 9.31(a)(3)). Both the impersonation and providing a regulated service without a license charges are Class A misdemeanors and would, if convicted, result in the loss of your CHL for 5 years.

DPS’s opinion statement on this subject can be found here:

(https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/RSD/PSB/Laws/psb_opin_sum.htm )

DPS states the one exception to the licensing requirement for non-peace officers in this instance would be “However, there is one exception to licensing under Chapter 1702 provided by the legislature that could arguably apply, which can be found in section 1702.323 (“Security department of Private Business”).  This exception would allow volunteers to provide security services exclusively for one church, as long as they do not carry firearms and as long as they do not wear “a uniform with any type of badge commonly associated with security personnel or law enforcement or a patch or apparel with ‘security’ on the patch or apparel.”  See Tex. Occ. Code §1702.323(a) & (d)(2).  Thus, the wearing of a uniform or any apparel containing the word “security” would subject them to the licensing requirements of the act.”

The ONLY other exception to the licensing requirements we have discussed is the use of an off duty full time peace officer. Full time peace officers are exempted from the need for a security contractor or security officer license, and they may provide security off duty and armed in or out of uniform.

Now outside of this, an individual not providing security may be an usher, pastor, member of the congregation, etc. carrying into a church under their CHL. Do not mistake this as us telling you that you may not carry into a church that isn’t properly post with a 30.06 sign under your CHL. This simply means that you cannot use your CHL to provide security while there.

We want to keep you, the CHL holder, safe and out of trouble. If you have any questions regarding this article or security in general, feel free to contact me.

About the Author

John-Michael Gillaspy is the owner of G2 Security Solutions, Inc. a  physical security and investigations company as well as a security training academy. He is a firearms, security, and defense tactics instructor licensed by the state of Texas and certified both nationally and internationally. He is also the President of Security Officer’s Brotherhood. Security Officer’s Brotherhood is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing training requirements, affecting positive change in the security profession, and recognizing security officers. 

G2 Security Solutions, Inc. Facebook/Website ( www.facebook.com/G2security / www.G2S2academy.com )

Security Officer’s Brotherhood Facebook/Website
(https://www.facebook.com/SOBrotherhood / http://www.SecurityOfficersBrotherhood.org )

Direct questions to [email protected]

 

 

 

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No Comments to “ Texas CHL Holders and Church Security Teams”

  1. Sasi says :Reply
    April 8, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    Hmm I do think that you need a passport to get here but they might accpet photo id and birth certificate. I also do think that they check insurance. The best thing to do would to call and ask what you need to get through to our county. Good luck!

  2. Charles Lincoln says :Reply
    June 19, 2015 at 6:45 am

    I am a bit confused by your article. I am a pastor of a local church and a CHL holder. I have several CHL holders in the congregation (we’re in texas)
    Is it correct that any CHL holder CAN carry in the church as long as they do not provide an organized security effort?
    Also, if an deadly force event occurs can any CHL holder terminate a threat, as long as an organized security effort is not in effect?.

  3. John-Michael Gillaspy says :Reply
    June 20, 2015 at 1:50 am

    Mr. Lincoln,

    Yes, you are correct. A CHL may carry into the church under their CHL license, but you may not use them as a security team. It can not be predetermined that they will be carrying a firearm with a pre existing team. Many churches all over the state are unaware they are breaking the law, and as I said in the beginning of the article we get questions about this constantly. As to the question about “terminating the threat” it would depend their justification, but being in a church doesn’t remove a CHL holders ability to use deadly force. Also note that a CHL holder shoots to stop a threat not terminate or kill the attacker. If you have any further questions I’d be happy to help you in regards to CHL rules or law or how to legally form a church security team.

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  6. dearl says :Reply
    November 6, 2017 at 10:05 am

    You need to remove this page, it is no longer correct. senate bill 2065 passed in 2017 which now makes it LEGAL for churches to create a volunteer protection security team that is carrying guns as long as they are not paid in anyway. Its the concept of being at home protecting your home while at church. So this is an outdated page. Thanks

  7. Joseph Similien says :Reply
    November 28, 2017 at 7:07 pm

    My church is a family church it has been established for about 17yrs. I’ve always protected my pastor, congregation and offering since the beginning. Now we had grown to about 250 to 300 members any given Sunday. Now we have 3 off duty PO’s that provide security w/o pay. I’m not on the security team. I am a usher . But I continue to be armed because this guys work side jobs. They are not there a lot of the time. I posted the signs: 30.06 and 30.07 last year . Meaning I’ve always had a concern for the safety of my church. My background military police and security for over 40 yrs. combined . I am very proficient, skilled and have training in active shooter . My thing is how can I provide a safe environment and still be lawful. Awaiting you response Thank You!!!

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