Active Threat Mitigation – Houses of Worship

Active Threat Mitigation for Houses of Worship book cover

Protecting faith communities while preserving a welcoming environment.

Houses of worship have always stood as sanctuaries of hope and peace. Yet in today’s environment, faith communities must balance openness with vigilance.

Active Threat Mitigation for Houses of Worship provides a structured, prevention-focused framework built around five essential pillars: Detect, Deter, Delay, Respond, and Recover. Designed specifically for congregations, this guide offers practical, faith-sensitive strategies that strengthen security without undermining a welcoming atmosphere.

Church leaders, security teams, and volunteers will learn how to identify early behavioral warning signs, implement layered security measures appropriate for worship settings, and build preparedness plans that help protect congregations while maintaining the spirit of community and faith.

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Author | Researcher | Professor of Information Systems

Dr. Steven A. Schilhabel is a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, where he specializes in the intersection of emerging technology, strategy, and systems thinking. With a background in software development, infrastructure, and IT leadership, Steve brings both technical depth and practical experience to his work in academia and publishing.

His research focuses on blockchain, artificial intelligence, and Web 3.0, with an emphasis on how these technologies shape organizations, behavior, and society. He earned his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from UW–Whitewater and regularly presents at national and international conferences.

In The Scholar’s Guide to True Crime, Steve applies the same investigative and analytical tools he teaches in the classroom to real-world unsolved cases. His goal: help readers think like scholars, not just consume crime stories.

🔗 Personal Website
🔗 LinkedIn Profile
🔗 UW Oshkosh Faculty Page

Law Enforcement Professional | Crime Prevention Expert | Educator

Jason Weber is a nationally recognized leader in law enforcement and public safety education, with over 30 years of experience in crime prevention, community policing, and training. He currently serves as the Crime Prevention Program Manager for the Arizona State University Police Department, where he develops proactive strategies to improve campus safety and educate the public.

Jason’s career spans municipal police work, higher education, and national advisory roles. He has earned multiple honors, including Wisconsin’s Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year and Writer’s Police Academy Most Valuable Partner Award. His work bridges theory and practice, making him a sought-after voice in public safety circles.

In The Scholar’s Guide to True Crime, Jason brings the grounded perspective of a seasoned law enforcement professional to the analytical lens of academic inquiry. His insights help readers distinguish between speculation and evidence, and between amateur theory and investigative rigor.

🔗 Jason’s ASU Profile
🔗 Jason on LinkedIn

Students from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh have contributed to the development of these books. We wish to acknowledge and thank the following:

Channi Icenhower: Channi is a student at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in English, with minors in Creative Writing and French. Channi is an active participant in local communities within the Fox Cities region. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching true crime videos, and spending time with her family. Channi is a co-editor on True Crime Scholars’ first novel, The Case of Maura Murray.

Autumn Luedtke: Autumn is a student at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, where she is pursuing degrees in Radio-TV-Film and English with a minor in Journalism. Autumn is a co-editor on True Crime Scholars’ novel, The Case of Maura Murray, and has also worked as an editor at UWO, editing essays, résumés, and other academic assignments. Her editorial experience and academic interests focus on true crime storytelling, investigative journalism, and multimedia narrative production.