DEXTER, Mo. -- Historically, churches have always served as safe havens. All of that changed in recent years, though, following church shootings in Texas, Colorado, Tennessee and California and closer to home in Southern Illinois and in southwest Missouri.

In light of these attacks, one local law enforcement agency has taken the initiative to protect community churches and their members by offering a program to implement security practices within their church facilities.

Sgt. Dale Moreland of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, serving as Information and Public Safety Officer for the Troop E area, announced his availability in helping area churches to help make and keep their religious facilities secure.

"Unfortunately times have changed and churches are just not the safe havens they used to be," Moreland said, "and for that reason, the patrol has developed a program to help assure the safety of churchgoers in our area."

The driving force behind the program is Sgt. Dan Bracker from the Springfield, Mo., area who was particularly affected by a church shooting in southwest Missouri.

"Sgt. Bracker worked with a number of churches in the Springfield area to develop a program that would best serve church communities in Missouri," Moreland said.

That program is now available to area church members, particularly to members of the security team within a church.

"It's really not intended for an entire congregation to watch," Moreland said, "but is better directed at particular members of a church who have been designated as security team members of the church."

Moreland said many churches have not established a security team, as such, but a two- or three-member force representing a local church congregation would be suitable to take part in the patrol's Church Safety Program.

He said even though some churches already have a safety procedure plan in place, the program helps establish specific tasks for church members to perform at each church gathering.

"There are precautions to be taken that include the seating of individuals in strategic spots in a church where they can readily observe people entering or leaving the facility," Moreland said. "There should also be a check made of interior rooms to include furnace and storage areas when church is in session."

He said access to plumbing and kitchen areas should also be checked, as should closets and back entrances.

Moreland recommends churches group together for the training session, which he said he prefers to conduct on Saturdays. Any group interested in attending a Church Security Seminar is encouraged to contact Moreland at Troop E Headquarters at Poplar Bluff, Mo., at 573-840-9508, extension 221.