Chestnuthill Township Constable Donald Ernst has an unusual ministry – he trains volunteers how to prevent crime at houses of worship.
Ernst, 75, of Effort, has been recognized as a Certified Crime Prevention Specialist by the National Crime Prevention council in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice. The designation recognizes Ernst’s extensive training, experience and accomplishments in the practice of crime prevention.
He's also the assistant public safety director at A Pocono Country Place in Coolbaugh Township.
Ernst holds about four seminars a year through his Pocono Mountains Houses of Worship Task Force at various houses of worship throughout the county.
“There are special challenges in a house of worship,” Ernst said. “You try to have a high level of security in place without negatively affecting the atmosphere of the service, but at the same time be ready for an emergency.”
Ernst began his crime fighting career about 30 years ago as the Chief of Fernwood Public Safety in Bushkill.
“I took an interest in crime prevention,” he said. “It is easier to prevent crime than solve it.”
While he was chief Ernst attended the National Crime Prevention Institute and became certified as a Crime Prevention Specialist. He continued to attend workshops and seminars and gave talks of his own.
He organized a personal ministry, the Pocono Mountains Houses of Worship Task Force about three years ago. It sponsors training workshops for different houses of worship, a place to to send a house of worship's staff where they are trained in on how to respond to various senarios. Situations like an active shooter, the role of ushers and greeters regarding a threat to the audience during a service, and how to physically secure the building with locks, alarms, lighting systems and landscaping.
“We help them put together a security analysis and plan,” Ernst said. “We conduct a survey of the physical property, put together a security team and a plan and analysis. Their roles would be to constantly monitor the level of security at the house of worship.
“The critical thing is to conduct a comprehensive security survey of the house of worship. That would look at the physical facility itself, good lights, good locks, do you have plans in place if you have someone disruptive in a service how your ushers would handle it,” he said. “Are there proper safeguards in place to protect the children in a Sunday school setting so nobody comes in and kidnaps them in a domestic dispute.”
The training is free, provided as a part of Ernst’s personal ministry. Ernst gives workshops at house of worship serving as host. He usually gets follow-up calls on how the individual house of worship should plan its security.
Ernst stays busy. As constable of Eldred Township, he provides service to the court, including arrest warrants and civil process.
“We want to bring an added value to the office with crime prevention,” he said.
To discuss the ministry and how Ernst might help your house of worship, call 570-982-5131.