Veteran with service dog records confrontation with security guard
An Army veteran hopes his uncomfortable experience at a downtown Colorado Springs church can teach others how to treat those with disabilities.
David Gambrell and his service dog, Sgt. Buddy, visited First Presbyterian Church for the first time on Sunday and were immediately confronted by a security guard who repeatedly asked where he was going with the dog. Gambrell, who suffers from PTSD, took out his cell phone and recorded the encounter for the next 20 minutes.
“I was at a loss for words,” Gambrell told KRDO NewsChannel 13. “I wanted to make sure that whatever happened in the next few minutes, it wasn’t just my word or Sgt. Buddy’s word.”
In the video, the guard is heard asking Gambrell for identification and tells Gambrell he’s called police. He also tells Gambrell his dog looks like “a pit bull with stuff on it.”
Gambrell is heard breathing heavily, telling the guard he’s suffering from a panic attack. Sgt. Buddy stays by Gambrell’s side throughout the confrontation.
“He stayed there right at my feet and I could feel him breathing at my shins,” Gambrell said. “So he was there and he kept me grounded.”
At one point, other members of the church step in, asking the guard to back down.
Under federal ADA guidelines, there are only two questions allowed to be asked of a person with a service dog. The first is whether or not the dog is a service animal, and the second is in regards to what task the animal is trained to perform, being careful not to draw out information about the person’s disability. No vest or paperwork is required.
But religious establishments are exempt from federal ADA regulations, meaning the guard’s actions were not illegal.
Reverend Jennifer Holz from First Presbyterian Church issued this statement to KRDO NewsChannel 13:
“We admire the courage of the Gambrell family as they continue to live daily with the results of loyal service to this country. Both in our first 15-minute encounter and as we have walked with the Gambrell family through this week they have taught us the importance of the relationship between a veteran and his service dog. We hope this story will serve to remind us all to reach out to our local veterans to provide the love and support they need. We also hope that the Gambrell family will find their way back into our midst here at First Pres. The Gambrell family is one of deep faith and we pray that God will continue to wrap His loving arms around them. We’ve had a long relationship with our security company. Their security personnel have to make decisions every day to try and protect the safety of all those who enter our community — adults and children alike. They have done a very good job for us and our community. We constantly work together to try and make sure this is the best environment for all who come to our church including our Vets and our children.”
The security company, G4S, told KRDO NewsChannel 13 in a written statement that “G4S is sensitive to the needs of veterans” and is “committed to treating every person with dignity and respect.” The statement goes on to say, “The G4S team have been working with the Pastoral and Senior staff at First Pres Colorado Springs to understand and address the issues raised by Mr. Gambrell, and to ensure that the environment at First Pres is safe and welcoming.”
First Presbyterian Church told KRDO it plans to put up signs indicating service dogs are welcome at the church. Gambrell said he hopes others will educate themselves about the rules regarding service dogs and also the etiquette in dealing with those with a disability.
