05/30/2026
What an Amazing Day Cross Creek Community Church!
Today was a powerful reminder of what can happen when people come together with a common purpose: caring for and protecting one another.
The Gadsden State Police/Public Safety Department was honored to participate in today's Church Safety Training at Cross Creek Community Church. We were blessed to have more than 100 people in attendance representing approximately 20 churches from across our area.
Seeing so many church security team members, volunteers and congregation members spend part of their Saturday learning how to better protect their churches was inspiring.
A special thank you to Darin Garrison for the invitation and for helping bring everyone together for such an important event. We are also grateful for the support and participation of Sheriff Jonathan Horton and the Etowah County Sheriff's Office, the Gadsden Police Department, and the Southside Police Department. It is always encouraging to see law enforcement agencies and churches working side by side for the good of our community.
We would also like to thank Pastor Chris Walker and the entire Cross Creek Community Church family for opening their doors and hosting this important event. Your hospitality was second to none. From the coffee, snacks, and refreshments to the warm welcome shown to every attendee, you made everyone feel right at home.
We also want to thank all of the instructors who shared their knowledge, experience, and passion for helping others. A special thank you goes to Dr. Page and his staff for providing the Stop the Bleed training. The skills taught today could make a life-saving difference during an emergency.
Most importantly, thank you to every person who attended. Your willingness to learn, ask questions, and take part in meaningful discussions is what made this event such a success. We hope you left with valuable information, practical skills, and greater confidence in helping keep your church family safe.
As Chief Jay Freeman shared today, protecting a church is about much more than security. It is about protecting our families, our children, our friends, and our neighbors. It is about ensuring that our places of worship remain places of peace, hope, faith, and fellowship for generations to come.
Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of that mission. We hope everyone who attended gained valuable knowledge that can be taken back and shared within their churches and communities.
Please enjoy some of the photos from today's event!
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