Days after a gunman drove a truck into a Grand Blanc Township church and opened fire on worshippers, killing four people and wounding eight, hundreds gathered in Flint for a community safety briefing focused on crisis response and prevention in houses of worship.
The 2-hour “tactical briefing,” led by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Genesee Health System gymnasium, drew faith leaders, law enforcement and community members just five miles from the scene of the Sept. 28 attack. More than 500 people representing about 200 congregations across Michigan registered for the briefing, which Sheriff Chris Swanson called the largest gathering of faith-based communities in the county’s history.
“There’s always more that you can learn, there’s always more that you can do,” Swanson told the crowd. “When you prepare in peace, you perform in chaos.”
The event included presentations from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and law enforcement. Attendees filled the room, nodding in agreement and taking notes as they listened to speakers discuss threat detection, emergency response and practical steps to protect places of worship.
The meeting came less than a week after investigators said 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, a former Marine, crashed a pickup truck into the Grand Blanc ward of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before firing an assault-style rifle inside. Police believe he also set a fire that spread smoke and ash into the surrounding neighborhoods. Officers shot and killed Sanford at the scene.
“My heart goes out to the entire Grand Blanc community. My heart goes out to the LDS community. My heart goes out to those who lost their lives, their loved ones; people who are still suffering from injuries,” Nessel said before her presentation. “Hopefully, those who lost their lives were not in vain. And we use this as a way to make sure that people are going to be protected in houses of worship all across the state, now, as a result.”
Spotting threats and preventing violence
The training underscored the balance between maintaining a welcoming environment and ensuring organizational safety. Speakers stressed prevention through vigilance, training and law enforcement partnerships.
Nessel spoke about the work of her office’s Hate Crimes Unit, warning that Michigan reported about 620 hate crimes in 2024 — more than 50 incidents a month.
“(About) 59% of domestic terrorists began to exhibit concerning behavior more than a year in advance of their actual violent plots,” she said.
Nessel urged leaders and residents to be aware of key warning signs that indicate someone may be on a pathway to violence, which could include persistent grievances, violent ideation, attack research and planning, unusual purchases of weapons and/or other equipment, and probing or conducting test runs of potential attacks.
“If you see something concerning, please bring it to our attention at the earliest opportunity,” the attorney general added.
Michigan residents can report hate crimes by calling local police or emailing the state Attorney General’s Hate Crimes Unit at HateCrimes@michigan.gov. Victims should document evidence, prioritize safety and report incidents promptly, even if unsure whether the act constitutes a crime, officials said.
Genesee County Lt. Ruby Lopez outlined basic survival tactics during an active threat — run, hide, fight — emphasizing evacuation when possible and barricading if escaping isn’t safe. He called fighting a “last resort” when running or hiding aren’t options.
“Those will increase your chances of surviving any kind of critical incident,” Lopez said.
If someone is forced to fight an attacker, the officer said the most effective targets are the eyes, throat and groin.
“When you’re in a fight for your life, there are no rules,” he added.
Security and preparedness
Law enforcement officials recommended several security steps for faith-based organizations. Among their suggestions:
Swanson encouraged leaders to be transparent with congregations about safety plans, saying: “Leaders need to say, ‘Hey, our place of worship is going to be a safe place for you to worship. These are the things that we’ve done, and this is what we have to do.'”
When asked about concealed carrying in churches, Nessel explained that religious institutions may authorize certain concealed pistol license holders to carry. Swanson recommended that security leaders keep a record of which individuals hold CPLs and which have been approved by organizational leadership.
The briefing included hemorrhage control training led by Deputy Paramedic Dustin Roy of the sheriff’s office. He demonstrated how to properly apply a tourniquet high and tight for extremity bleeding, pack wounds in areas where a tourniquet cannot be used, and apply chest seals for penetrating injuries. Roy said that fast, accurate intervention can prevent deaths in traumatic emergencies.
Attendees left the event with tourniquets or trauma bandages and were encouraged to reach out to Bound Tree Medical to purchase additional supplies for their congregations.
Building resilience
Organizers said the briefing was as much about unity as it was about tactics.
“By bringing law enforcement, state leadership, and local residents together in a shared conversation, we hope to strengthen the county’s resilience, build trust, and ensure everyone knows how to act when the unexpected happens,” according to the news release.
Attendees echoed that urgency.
“There will be things that we do now just simply to be on the lookout for anything,” said Dan Rathka of Laingsburg, a member of the LDS St. Johns Branch.
Todd Barcey, a resident of Flushing, also expressed a need for improved safety measures in places of worship. He said his church has already begun implementing safety upgrades, viewing recent incidents as a catalyst for immediate action.
“There is no easy answer,” Barcey said. “It’s like trying to predict crazy. … But it’s part of where we’re at. Hopefully, this is the worst it’s ever going to be, and where things are going to get better. Hopefully, this was the worst part of our history.”
Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Grand Blanc Twp. church attack draws hundreds of faith leaders for safety training
Reporting by Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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