SAULT STE. MARIE — Chippewa County Sheriff Michael Bitnar hosted a church safety presentation at Lake Superior State University this afternoon to help churches prepare for emergencies, including medical situations and active shooter incidents.
About 150 people attended the event, called “Safety, Security and Survival,” including church leaders and members along with other law enforcement agencies.
Topics included developing or enhancing a security team, legalities of armed security, identifying safety zones and securing a church.
Bitnar had considered holding an event like this for the past few years, but recent church shootings increased the urgency.
“I told him I was grateful he had the courage to address the situation and I think he has the same mentality that we better be prepared,” Jeff Middlestead, Sault E-Free campus pastor, said. “If we come here for a couple hours and learn some great insight and it never has to be used, that would be the best case scenario. But we want to be prepared.”
Lifesaver U.P. provided hands-on trauma and first aid training at the end of the event.