“Safety and Security Leaders of the Church have the responsibility to protect the faithful as they live out their faith life at Masses, attending schools, engaging in works of mercy, etc. (cf. Can. 1220 §2). The Archdiocese of Denver is committed to proactively managing security risks, thus, its program of safety and security, as found on the Mission Support website, should be an aspect of policies, procedures, and decision-making activities at parishes.”

Meet Deacon Mike Daly!

Deacon Mike has been married for 26 years and is the proud father of five children. In 2015, he was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate and is currently assigned to Our Lady of Fatima in Lakewood.

In addition to his ministry, Deacon Mike dedicated 22 years to a distinguished career in law enforcement. In August 2000, he began his service with the Wheat Ridge Police Department but spent most of his career with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, rising through the ranks from line-level deputy to retire as a Commander in February 2022.

Throughout his career, he served in the Patrol, Detentions, and Support Services Divisions, as well as within the Executive Branch, where he oversaw the Internal Affairs and Staff Inspections Units. His specialized assignments included serving as a Field Training Officer and Academy Instructor, SWAT Negotiator and SORT Tactical Commander, and Crisis Intervention Team regional coordinator and trainer. He was also directly responsible for the Court Security Unit and the Dispatch Unit.

Drawing on decades of leadership and service — including responding to two school shootings, developing new methods for law enforcement response to citizens suffering from mental health issues, managing major construction and renovation projects for the courts, county administration building, and county detention center, and playing a significant role in the regionalization of more than 20 dispatch units across several jurisdictions into Jeffcom 911, as well as coordinating multiple executive protection details, including two presidential visits — he felt called to a greater mission for the Church.

Dn. Mike retired from law enforcement and began a new path, helping to found St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School as the Vice President of Infrastructure and Security. Drawing from his previous experience and diaconal call, Dn. Mike helped build the first two phases of the school and fostered a Catholic school culture that included a strong sense of safety and security. Based on that work, Deacon Mike was invited to work for the Archdiocese of Denver and establish the new position of Director of Safety and Security.

Since August 2023, he has developed this position with the initial primary focus on all parishes with schools, implementing standardized methods of emergency preparedness, communication, and action planning. While continuing this effort, Dn. Mike also assists all parishes as needs and emergencies arise to ensure pastors, parish leaders, and school administrators are equipped to safeguard their flocks.

PARISH SECURITY

Considerations

Safety Team

Safety Team members collaborate to develop a culture of awareness and preparedness in the event of a critical incident amongst the parish or school communities. Critical incidents range from medical events (i.e. sprained ankles to cardiac events) to disturbances, to building systems failures (i.e. water main breaks or blackouts), to violent actions against the parish and/or school.

The number of safety team members is best kept to a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 7 people, depending on the size of your parish and/or school or apostolate. For parishes with schools, the team should be comprised of members who represent both the parish and the school to avoid the silo effect.

Steps for Safety & Security

Prioritize Needs

Based on the needs and their dependencies, prioritize what can and should be implemented with anticipated time-frames and participants. Parish, Financial Councils, and ministries can be a benefit for input and assistance.

Emergency Operation Plan

Identify important needs and relative costs; Where can the parish strengthen safety – physically, visually, electronically; Who is affected and when; What plans/practices are in place and do they work; How can you optimize safety and security currently.

EOP ExampleEOP Template

Vulnerability Assessment

Email safety@archden.org

Archdiocesan Guidance

Safety & Security Across the Archdiocese of Denver

Equipping pastors, parish and school leaders to safeguard the flock

“Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help!” ~ Psalms 35:2

ONE:
Safety Team
Collaborate to develop awareness and preparedness for myriads of critical incidents throughout parish community. Incident types range from natural to human-caused situations.

3-7 team members who are subject matter experts and a mix of staff and volunteers.

TWO:
Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
A document outlining how the parish and its particular ministries will respond to critical incidents to protect life, property, and continue ministerial work.

Defines roles, responsibilities, procedures, and resources for preparedness, response, and recovery during any critical incident

Additional Parish Safety and Security Resources

Note: This is an incomplete list on an expansive topic. It is meant to serve as a starting point for familiarity and research on the topic and should be used for informational purposes only. The resources included in this list does not express or imply any type of endorsement or recommendation by the Archdiocese of Denver.