Putnam Co. Sheriff's Office to host third annual Church Safety Team Conference, training days

Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 9:04 AM

By Staff report

Next week will be the third annual Church Safety Team Conference and training days sponsored by Sheriff Jerrod Baugh and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Baugh wrote in this notice about the upcoming sessions:

It is unfortunate, but a good idea, to have a safety plan in place for our places of worship in Putnam County. As open and welcoming atmospheres, too many times, evil people have chosen to do harm to innocent people who have gathered for worship.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office continues to sponsor a training event for those who have already or are planning an armed response to an active threat in their places of worship. We will conduct a “best practice” for a safety team lectures and discussion. Each of these classes will be followed by Trauma Care training for the responder. This year we have two dates that you and your staff may attend, either Tuesday, August 19 or Wednesday, August 20. Classes are held at the 911 Emergency Operations Center and start at 6 p.m. These classes are open to administrators, clergy, and armed responders.

On Saturday, August 23, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. will be range day start times. If you are already a person who has a working knowledge and skills with a pistol, please feel free to attend one of the two start times. These classes are not for brand new shooters.

If your church is interested in sending participants to the range day, please email your church name and contact information with up to three members (with email addresses) that plan to attend. At this time, we can only service Putnam County Churches. Class size is limited to 3 per church at first, if there is room available closer to the range days, we will reach out for more names.

Sheriff.info@co.putnam.in.us