Domus Dei
Safety and Security Consulting for Catholic Churches & Schools
Protecting the sacred places where faith, education, and community come together.
Led by a former law enforcement commander and current military intelligence officer, bringing real-world experience in safety, investigations, and crisis response.
Our Mission: Protecting the heart of your ministry.
Churches, schools, and apostolates are sacred places for worship, learning, and community. They deserve safety solutions that strengthen security without compromising identity or hospitality. We focus on providing practical expertise that reduces risk, strengthens preparedness, and supports confident decision-making so your campus can remain both welcoming and well-protected.
Security Packages
Foundation Package - Know Your Risks
A professional, on-site assessment to identify vulnerabilities and provide clear, actionable recommendations.
Best for:
Parishes and schools seeking a clear understanding of their current safety posture.
Includes:
On-site campus assessment
Physical security review (buildings, access points, visibility)
Personnel and visitor access practices review
Basic cybersecurity and information handling review
Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) review or development
Written report with prioritized recommendations
Preparedness Package - Be Ready to Respond
Builds on the Foundation Package by strengthening your team’s readiness and response capability.
Best for:
Parishes and schools ready to move beyond assessment and actively prepare staff and leadership.
Includes everything in Foundation, plus:
Staff safety training session (2–3 hours)
Emergency drill planning guidance
Reunification plan development
Communication protocol refinement
Policy and procedure review (access, visitors, incident response)
Expanded and customized Emergency Operations Plan
Resilience Package - Build and Sustain a Secure Campus
Builds on the Foundation Package with a comprehensive approach that includes implementation support and long-term planning.
Best for:
Larger campuses or leadership teams seeking a complete, long-term safety strategy.
Includes everything in Preparedness, plus:
Security infrastructure guidance (cameras, access control, communication systems)
Vendor coordination support
Policy development and documentation
Multi-session training (staff and volunteers/ushers)
Leadership tabletop exercise
Follow-up visit and implementation review
Implementation Support - From Recommendations to Reality
Provides ongoing guidance and coordination to help you move forward with safety and security improvements in a clear, practical, and cost-effective way.
Best for:
Parishes and schools seeking support in implementing safety improvements, evaluating vendor proposals, and making confident, well-informed decisions without unnecessary cost or complexity.
Includes:
Prioritization of recommended improvements
Project planning aligned with your budget and timeline
Definition of requirements before engaging vendors
Vendor coordination and proposal review
Translation of technical options into clear, practical terms
Participation in key meetings and implementation discussions
Guidance throughout the installation process
Verification and follow-up to ensure solutions are working as intended
Independent advisor - we do not sell or install equipment, ensuring recommendations remain objective and aligned with your needs.
Investigations & Advisory Services - Handle Sensitive Matters with Clarity and Integrity
We provide professional, discreet support for sensitive internal matters requiring experience, objectivity, and sound judgment. Our investigator holds a Tier 5 national security clearance and has conducted thousands of criminal and internal investigations, to include workplace misconduct.
Workplace and personnel investigations*
Internal incident review
Behavioral threat assessment support
Policy violation and misconduct inquiries
Leadership advisory services during complex situations
*Investigations of diocesan employees, to include priests, may be subject to diocesan investigators. Our investigator will work with authorities, attorneys, diocesan officials, and insurance companies to ensure a thorough investigation and comprehensive report of findings and recommendations.
Confidentiality: All work is conducted with the utmost professionalism, confidentiality, and respect for your mission.
Build Confidence Across Your Team
We provide practical training for staff and volunteers to ensure they are prepared to respond effectively in a variety of situations.
Staff and volunteer training sessions
Usher and greeter safety training for parishes
Emergency response procedures and exercise training (lockdown, evacuation, shelter-in-place)
De-escalation and behavioral response techniques
Threat and behavioral review
Policy and procedure development
Cyber and Information Security review
Event safety planning
Emergency communications planning
Crisis leadership training
Parent and community safety presentations
Annual safety reviews and continuity support
Tabletop exercise facilitation
Ongoing advisory support
Customized assistance
About Us
At Domus Dei Church & School Security, our work is grounded in both professional experience and a deep commitment to the Catholic faith. With a background in law enforcement leadership and military planning and intelligence, we bring real-world expertise in threat assessment, investigations, crisis response, and public safety operations. This experience is paired with advanced education in public safety administration, professional certification, and hands-on work in safety and security technology.
What Sets Us Apart
Our founder, Charlie Anderson, is a practicing Catholic, husband, and father, with a professional background rooted in service, leadership, and public safety.
He retired as a Commander with the Saint Paul Police Department in 2023, where he served in a variety of operational, administrative, and investigative roles. He currently serves as the full-time Director of Intelligence & Security for the Minnesota National Guard, with responsibility for intelligence, threat assessment, and security planning. He has been recognized in both his law enforcement and military careers for distinguished service.
Charlie holds a Master’s degree in Public Safety Administration from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and is a graduate of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. He lives in the Saint Croix Valley with his wife, Betsy, and their four children, all of whom attend Catholic schools.
This work is personal. As a practicing Catholic and parent, Charlie understands that parishes and schools are not simply facilities—they are places where faith is lived, taught, and entrusted to the next generation.
In recent years, Catholic communities—both locally and across the country—have faced new and sobering challenges. Events such as the tragedy at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis, where school children and parishioners were targeted during Mass, underscored the reality that even sacred spaces are not immune to violence.
In the absence of clear, consistent support or practical guidance, Charlie felt a responsibility to act—to use his experience in public safety, physical security, intelligence, and investigations to serve the Church in a meaningful way.
He founded Domus Dei Safety & Security to help Catholic parishes and schools strengthen safety and preparedness with clarity, professionalism, and a deep respect for their identity and mission—ensuring that what is sacred remains both protected and welcoming.
To demonstrate our commitment to the mission of the universal church, a portion of our profits supports our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.
From Our Clients.
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"The assessment was thorough, practical, and immediately helpful. It gave us clarity and confidence moving forward." - K-12 Principal
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"A thoughtful approach that respected our parish culture while strengthening our safety." - Pastor
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“Their attention to detail and commitment truly stood out. A professional team that delivers on their promises.” - COO of large lay apostolate
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"We're so happy that we had a second pair of eyes on our campus. We came away with confidence we were doing many of the right things, but also concrete ways to improve." - Church/PreK-12 School Security Manager
Frequently Asked Questions
Effective safety is not about doing everything - it’s about doing the right things in the right order.
Let’s work together to find out what that looks like for you.
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We provide comprehensive safety and security support for Catholic parishes and schools, including:
On-site safety and security assessments and infrastructure evaluations
Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) development and review
Staff and volunteer training
Crisis preparedness and response planning
Policy and procedure evaluation
Investigative and advisory services for sensitive situations
Implementation and project management
Our services are designed to be practical, mission-aligned, and tailored to the unique needs of each community.
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Getting started is simple.
We begin with a brief conversation to understand your campus, your concerns, and your goals. From there, we recommend an appropriate level of assessment and schedule an on-site visit.
Following the assessment, you’ll receive a clear, prioritized report with practical next steps. From there, you can decide how much support you’d like moving forward.
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Our approach is grounded in real-world experience and a deep understanding of Catholic communities.
With an academic and professional background in law enforcement leadership and military planning and intelligence, we bring practical expertise in safety, security, investigations, and crisis response. As a practicing Catholic, we also understand the importance of preserving a welcoming, mission-centered environment.
We focus on clear, realistic solutions—not fear-based recommendations or unnecessary complexity.
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You can reach us through the contact form on this website, by email at info@domusdeisecurity.com, or at 651-592-9449.
We’re happy to schedule a brief, no-obligation conversation by phone or on-site to learn more about your needs and answer any questions.
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Investment
Every parish and school is different, and our services are tailored to your specific needs, campus, and goals.
Our focus is to provide clear, practical value—helping you make meaningful improvements without unnecessary cost or complexity.
Typical Engagement Ranges
Foundation — Know Your Risks
$2,500 – $3,500
Comprehensive on-site assessment with clear, prioritized recommendations.
Preparedness — Be Ready to Respond
$4,000 – $6,000
Our most common starting point, combining assessment, training, and emergency planning.
Resilience — Build and Sustain a Secure Campus
$6,500+
A comprehensive approach including implementation support, training, and long-term planning.
Additional Services
Training sessions: $500 – $2,500
Implementation support: $1,500 – $4,000 (or hourly)
Investigations & advisory: Hourly or project-based
A Practical Approach to Cost
We understand that safety and security can feel overwhelming—especially when faced with potential expenses for infrastructure or technology.
Our approach is to help you:
Focus on what matters most
Prioritize improvements based on real risk—not fear
Identify low-cost, high-impact solutions first
Avoid unnecessary or overly complex systems
In many cases, meaningful improvements can be made through procedures, awareness, and planning—not just equipment.
Getting Started
We typically begin with a brief conversation to understand your needs and recommend the right level of support.
Schedule a phone consultation or complimentary on-site meeting through our contact form on this website, email info@domusdeisecurity.com, or call 651-592-9449.
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Most assessments include an on-site visit followed by a detailed report delivered within 10-14 days.
Depending on the package or project, most work is completed in 1-3 months unless speciliazed assistance is requested or required.
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We include a practical review of basic cybersecurity and information security as part of our overall assessment.
Our focus is on common, high-impact risks - such as email phishing, password practices, firewall and back-up processes, and access to sensitive information - rather than highly technical or complex systems.
In many cases, meaningful improvements can be made through staff awareness, simple safeguards, and clear procedures.
For more advanced and technical cybersecurity needs, we can help identify appropriate resources or partners if needed.
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Our process is collaborative, respectful, and practical. And prayerful.
We take time to understand your campus and your culture, and we work closely with leadership throughout the process. Our goal is to provide clear guidance without overwhelming staff or disrupting daily operations.
Clients can expect professionalism, discretion, and a focus on solutions that are realistic and sustainable.
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Absolutely—and this is one of the most common concerns we hear.
Safety and security can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with potential costs for cameras, access control, or other upgrades. Our role is to bring clarity and perspective.
We help you:
Identify what truly matters versus what can wait
Prioritize improvements based on risk, not fear
Focus on low-cost, high-impact changes first
Avoid unnecessary or overly expensive solutions
In many cases, meaningful improvements can be made through procedures, awareness, and planning—not just technology.
Our goal is to help you make prudent decisions that strengthen safety while respecting your resources.
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Not necessarily.
While technology can play a role, it is only one part of an effective safety strategy. Many of the most important improvements involve:
Clear procedures
Staff awareness and training
Controlled access practices
Communication and coordination
We help you determine where technology adds value—and where it may not be necessary.
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Yes.
Many Catholic schools and parishes share the same campus, and we take a unified approach that considers both environments together. Some apostolates have their own campus, and we work with you to understand your unique ministry and needs.
We also work with parishes independently, including Mass and event safety, volunteer coordination, and facility security.
Finally, we understand that dioceses and insurance companies may differ in their requirements. We work closely with them to align policies and procedures with your goals.
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Not at all! Our process is designed to be minimally disruptive and respectful of your daily schedule.
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We do not provide legal advice or legal services.
Our work is informed by an understanding of applicable legal considerations related to safety, risk, and liability, but all recommendations are provided from a safety and security perspective - not as legal guidance.
If legal advice is needed, we recommend consulting qualified counsel experienced in nonprofit, school, and employment law. We are familiar with legal firms which serve Catholic churches, schools, and nonprofit organizations and can help point clients toward appropriate resources.
Let’s Strengthen Your Campus Safety.
We typically begin with a brief conversation to understand your needs and determine the right next step. Schedule a no obligation phone or on-site consultation by submitting the contact form.