Sunday services
A visible officer at the doors and in the parking lot, every week or only when you need one.
Protecting people. Securing purpose.
Sworn police officers, watching over your church.
Shepherd Security Group connects churches with vetted, commissioned off-duty police officers. Book online in minutes, any day of the week. Every shift is insured.
- Free to sign up
- You approve every cost
- Pay only for shifts you book
Commissioned officers onlyActive or certified-retired law enforcement, never security guards
Booked in minutesPost your shifts online and watch them fill in real time
Covered, start to finishInsurance, officer pay and tax forms handled for you
24 / 7Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights, Christmas Eve
Watch
See how it works in two minutes.
“So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.”Nehemiah 4:9 (BSB)
Why churches are acting
Most churches hope it never happens. Prepared churches post a guard.
Serious incidents at houses of worship are still rare, but they are rising. Most aren't the headline attacks. They're robberies, domestic disputes that follow someone to church, and arguments that escalate in the parking lot. A uniformed officer in the parking lot deters most of them.
915
reported incidents at U.S. houses of worship in 2025, up 8.8% on 2024
Faith-Based Information Sharing & Analysis Organization, 2025 Year in Review
63%
of those incidents happened at Protestant churches
Same report
13%
of house-of-worship homicides since 2000 had any security measures in place
The Violence Project, House of Worship Homicides database
Law enforcement
is what leading church insurers recommend when a church wants armed protection
Church Mutual and Brotherhood Mutual safety guidance
How it works
From “we need someone Sunday” to a confirmed officer, in minutes.
- 01
Create your church’s free account
Sign up through our booking page. It takes about two minutes, and it’s free.
- 02
Create an event and list the shifts
Pick the dates and times, and say where you need coverage: parking lot, doors, traffic, or a roaming officer. Make it one Sunday or every Sunday.
- 03
Approve the rate
An illuno coordinator reviews your event, sets the rate and sends you a full cost breakdown. Nothing is posted to officers until you approve it, and the rate you approve is the rate that gets paid.
- 04
Officers claim it, and you watch it fill
Verified officers near you claim the shifts in the app. Fill status updates live on your dashboard, without phone calls.
- 05
Worship with peace of mind
The officer arrives and serves. Payment, insurance and the officer’s tax forms are handled for you, and every shift is on record.
Create your free account
Booking, officer payment and insurance are provided by illuno, the on-demand platform for off-duty police.
For every gathering
Wherever your people gather, a shepherd stands watch.
Midweek & youth nights
Wednesday services and youth groups, when evenings are dark and the building is quieter.
Easter & Christmas Eve
Your biggest crowds of the year, often with many guests you have never met.
Weddings & funerals
Calm, respectful coverage for life’s biggest days, including high-profile or difficult ones.
VBS & children’s events
Vacation Bible school, camps, fall festivals and Trunk-or-Treat, wherever children are.
Traffic & parking
An officer directing cars onto a busy road after service keeps your congregation safe and your neighbors happy.
After a threat
A threat, a break-in or a protective order in your congregation can't wait days for a callback. Post tonight.
Conferences & guest speakers
Revivals, conferences and well-known guests that draw people from across the city.
Not sure what your church needs?
Answer a few questions and get a free coverage plan: where officers should stand, how many you need and what it costs. It comes with a proposal you can hand your board and a briefing card for the officer.
Our officers
Real police. Not guards. Not volunteers.
Every officer you book is active or certified-retired law enforcement. They've been trained, sworn and tested on the job. Each one is identity-verified with ID.me, the same standard the IRS and the VA use, before they can claim a shift.
- Commissioned law enforcement only. There is no mixed staffing pool and no subcontractor chain.
- Identity-verified before they claim a shift. Each officer is checked with ID.me when they join, then cleared to work.
- Working under their own department’s rules. Officers take off-duty work as their agency’s secondary-employment policy allows.
- Liability coverage on every shift. It's built into each booking. Your church doesn't arrange it.
- A record of every shift. You can see who worked, where, for how long and at what rate.
How churches usually cover a Sunday
| Shepherd officers | Guard company | Volunteers only | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sworn, commissioned police | Yes | No | Sometimes |
| Book online, any day | Yes | Varies | n/a |
| Liability coverage per shift | Included | Varies | Your policy |
| You approve the cost before booking | Yes | Varies | n/a |
| Pay & tax forms handled | Yes | Yes | n/a |
Already have a safety team? Good. Our officers don't replace your volunteers. They back them up as the trained, armed professional your insurer prefers. Brief them on arrival and work as one team.
Pricing
Simple, per-shift pricing. Nothing hidden.
You pay for the officer hours you book, at an hourly rate set for your area. You'll see that rate before you approve. Signing up is free, and you pay only for the shifts you book.
- $0to create your church’s account
- $0middleman markup on officer pay
- 1place for every shift, confirmation and invoice
Are you a police officer?
Serve churches in your community, on your schedule.
Pick the shifts that fit your life and skip the rest. You see the rate before you accept, and you're paid within days. illuno reports recent shifts paying $75–$95 an hour, with no cut taken from your rate. Your department's approval for off-duty work is required.
Questions pastors ask
Frequently asked questions
Are these real police officers?
Yes. Every officer is active or certified-retired, commissioned law enforcement, and identity-verified with ID.me. They aren't private security guards.
Who pays the officer? Do we become their employer?
No. Your church pays illuno for the shifts it books. illuno pays the officer and issues their tax forms, so you don't hire, run payroll for, or contract with individual officers.
Is the officer insured while working at our church?
Yes. Liability coverage is built into every shift booked on the platform, for both the officer and your church. We still recommend letting your own insurance carrier know you use off-duty officers.
How quickly can we get someone?
Officers see a shift as soon as it's posted, and same-day or same-week fills are possible. The earlier you post, the better it fills. For regular Sunday coverage, post a few weeks ahead.
Can we choose a specific officer?
Officers claim posted shifts in order, so you don't pick by hand. Every officer who can claim your shift has already been verified.
Do we have to commit to regular coverage?
No. You book event by event and pay only for the shifts you book, at the rate you approve. Book one Easter service or every Sunday of the year.
Is it available in our city?
The platform operates in supported markets across the United States and is growing. A coordinator reviews every event before anything is posted, and can confirm coverage for your location.
Will an officer work alongside our safety team?
Yes, and that's the best setup. Tell the officer on arrival where the children are, who leads your safety team and what your emergency plan is. They serve as the trained professional on a team you already have.
How is Shepherd Security Group related to illuno?
Shepherd Security Group is an independent partner that helps churches get protected. Officer booking, payment and insurance are provided through illuno, an on-demand platform for off-duty police. When you sign up through our page, illuno shows your partner as the person who referred you.
Talk to us
Questions before you book? Ask us.
Send us a note and a person will get back to you. We help pastors and safety leaders work out what they need, get set up and make the case to their board.
- Help signing upWe’ll walk you through your account and your first shift.
- Help with your boardBring your safety plan and we’ll help you answer their questions.
- Big daysEaster, Christmas Eve, VBS or a conference: tell us the date and we’ll help you plan coverage.
Let us help you watch over your flock.
“The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:8 (BSB)
Book an officer for your church