A common term that law enforcement and other similar security teams use is “BOLO” which stands for Be On the Lookout. This has become an easy term to use that is well understood within security teams as a way to share the details of a person, situation, or thing to be on the lookout for.
A well written BOLO should have all the known and relevant information that can help another team member to know how to identify the situation with minimal effort. This is not always easy to do, but making a best effort can go a long way towards keeping your team informed and prepared.
Ideally a BOLO will include these types of details:
- BOLO Type: Person, Object, Situation, Vehicle
- Date(s): When did something happen, when is it expected to happen, etc.
- Detailed Description: Hair, Color, Clothing, and any additional detail that can be useful.
- Pictures: A picture of the person, the vehicle they are known to drive, etc.
Some of these details can be hard to catch or remember in the moment, but it is important to try to capture as much as possible. Specifically when a BOLO is about a person, it should go even deeper in to the details because people change their detailed appearance often, while their general appearance stays the same. Because of this, it is important to include stable features that are less-likely to change.
Example:
- BOLO Type: Suspicious Person
- Date & Time: 9/1/2026
- Name: John (potentially an alias)
- Height: 6’2”
- Age: mid-30’s
- Race: White/Caucasian
- Build: Slim
- Hair: Light brown, buzz cut. No facial hair.
- Clothing: Last seen wearing khaki shorts with leather sandals
- Reason for BOLO: During first service John was observed attempting to enter the children’s area through a locked door. When that was unsuccessful, he exited the building and attempted entry to the area through exterior doors. Upon being confronted, he became nervous and exited the property through the adjoining park. Greeters were able to provide the name of the individual that he provided when greeted before service.
- How to Respond: Immediately notify the Security Team Lead, and monitor the individual closely. If attempts are observed to make contact with children, or enter restricted areas, contact 911 and request a Trespass for this individual.
Another example of a BOLO:
Ideally a BOLO is a report or notification that can be easily shared in digital or printed format. From within the Vigilant Church Security platform, a BOLO can be exported into PDF format which can then be printed and shared with authorized team members who need the information, including ushers and greeters when appropriate.
If your team is not yet using BOLOs, I would like to strongly encourage you to start right away. The Vigilant Church Security platform makes this easy, and alerts your team immediately when a BOLO is issued.