Faith-Based Leaders Can Be Force Multiplier for Police in Times of Crisis

By Chief Jeff Halstead (Ret.), Director of Strategic Accounts with Genasys, Inc. 

In the first half of 2025, we’ve witnessed increasing political unrest, rising community tensions, mass protests, planned riots, and civil disturbances hitting our metropolitan regions hard. As the former Chief of Police in Fort Worth, I’ve faced similar challenges for many years. I’ve had to make tough calls and lead teams through long nights filled with uncertainty. I learned—sometimes the hard way—that one of the most effective tools you can use isn’t tactical, it’s relational. 

Local Faith-Based Leaders Can Be Your Strongest Allies 

Faith-based leaders have the attention and the ears of many, and when engaged directly and intentionally, they can become powerful communication conduits to your broader community. Your law enforcement agency may not have any relevancy as it relates to “community policing” if you do not have strong, communicative relationships with your religious leaders. The message needs to reach people where they are - and often, that’s in places of worship.

Why This Should Be a Priority for Every Law Enforcement Leader

Faith leaders are already trusted voices in your neighborhoods. They hold the attention of thousands of residents who live, work, and care deeply about your city. If you're serious about community policing, you cannot afford to ignore this relationship. But it’s not just about knowing their names—it’s about giving them timely, accurate, and non-biased information they can share confidently with their congregations.

If you want these important leaders to truly help your mission, support your agency, and assist in sharing truth and facts, you need to start communicating with them directly during “days of calm.” This only works when you make it a two-way, secure, and purposeful communication channel.

Forget the Group Text—They Deserve Better

Here’s the truth: social media posts and generic text blasts aren’t mission-critical communication. In a crisis, they create confusion, not clarity. Real-time coordination with faith leaders demands more. They deserve a platform that allows for immediate, secure, and accountable information-sharing—especially during high-risk incidents.

Start Building These Relationships During “Days of Calm,” Not Crisis

A communications platform, created specifically for these challenges, will allow for that, holding all members accountable, including the police department. The platform has to be encrypted, transparent, highly accountable, and used on a regular basis.   

I also learned this the hard way when I was literally unable to establish these networking groups when I was Chief (2008-2015), simply because the technology did not exist. This required me to literally call ALL of our religious leaders and delegate my entire command/executive staff to begin creating these talk groups to help me in a city of almost 1 million residents. It was not the ideal communications method (to call each faith leader individually) but it truly helped!   

It’s Easier Than You Think

Today’s technology has made secure collaboration simpler than ever. Using Genasys CONNECT, your agency can create encrypted, high-accountability talk groups with faith-based leaders in minutes—not hours or days. Every message has a “read-receipt.” Every conversation is private, compliant, and transparent. It’s the exact tool I wish I had when I was Chief.

Back then, I didn’t have a scalable, secure and easy to use method, other than reaching out to folks individually—but we did it because we knew making a connection always helps.

Whether you're dealing with:

• Officer-involved incidents

• Allegations of excessive force

• Protests or potential riots

• Misinformation or panic in the community

• Injured officers or internal crisis

• Volunteer mobilization before a weather event

This platform gives you the ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and legally through trusted community leaders.

The Bottom Line

Build the network now. Not when the sirens start. Not when the headlines hit. Right now. Because when the next challenge comes—and it will—you’ll need these relationships and tools already in place.

Faith-based leaders are ready to stand beside you. All they need is a secure line—and your leadership.