About Us
ABOUT
Sentinel Training Services was started for the purpose of providing situational training to church security teams. Churches rely on volunteers who willingly give of their time during worship services to help ensure the congregation members are safe each week. Sentinel Training Services recognizes that many of these volunteers are not able to obtain the amount of training they desire in order to improve their skills. This may be due to a lack of nearby training facilities, job schedule or financial resources. Sentinel Training Services was created to fill this gap and provide something that is useful to places of worship and the people who attend.
WHAT WE DO
Sentinel Training Services will come to your church and give each member of the church security team the opportunity to participate in the same situational training that law enforcement participates in. This training utilizes a state-of-the-art use of force simulation system. The trainee will then be placed in scenarios they could encounter as a member of a church security team with the goal of resolving the situation in the safest, best possible outcome. This allows the trainee to improve their skills in assessing threats, de-escalation, situational awareness and use of force judgment. The overall goal is that each member of the church security team will leave their session having improved in their abilities to handle difficult situations, recognizing threats/disruptions and resolving them in the safest manner possible for everyone. Additionally, this training will help increase the confidence of these volunteers who desire to serve their local congregation.
BENEFITS TO THE TRAINING
First, providing training to your church security team allows the members to gain confidence and improve their skills, which in turn allows them to perform their function at a higher level. Second, this shows the church is making an effort to ensure they have trained, skilled, quality people in the security positions. This helps, should there ever be a need to demonstrate that the church is doing its due diligence in providing training for their team members. Next, by providing use of force simulation training, the members can sharpen their de-escalation skills, which results in a safer outcome of incidents. Additionally, if desired, members of the team can observe their peers during the training, thereby exposing them to additional scenarios, various reactions to the same scenarios and training discussions. Lastly, this type of training can be tailored to each trainee individually in order to accomplish your instructional goals.
OUR FACILITATOR
Doug Long is retired from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation after serving more than 30 years. During his career, he served as a Special Agent in the Special Investigations Unit, Medicaid Fraud Control Division and Criminal Investigation Division. He has worked cases involving everything from corruption of public officials, healthcare fraud, prison escapes, countless officer involved shootings and use of force incidents, homicides and other violent crimes. Doug also served as a supervisor in the Medicaid Fraud and Criminal Investigation Divisions, eventually retiring as a Special Agent in Charge. During his career, he has received extensive specialized training, including the TBI Special Agents Academy, and training related to use of force and active shooter such as Citizens Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) and Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT).