Police Crack Down on Bodyguards at Canada Awards Show

The issue of regulation and licensing of Executive Protection Agents (Bodyguards) has often been an area subject to challenge, and contention within the  Protection industry.  No matter were you fall on the issue, it appears that Canada has taken a vocal stance, using the International Indian Film Awards held in Toronto to illustrate their point.

Via the Canadian Press:

Police are set to lay nearly 150 charges, alleging numerous security guards working at the International Indian Film Awards show in Toronto last month weren’t properly licensed.

Two British nationals have already been charged for allegedly providing close protection to a Bollywood star without having the credentials to do so.

And another 142 charges are pending after a police investigation into private security services during the International Indian Film Academy awards, which hosted events from June 23 to 25.

They include 24 counts of employing an unlicensed security guard, 16 counts of working as an unlicensed security guard and 96 counts of licensed agency permit uniform violation.

For the full story click HERE.

How do you feel about it, good for the industry or no?

ICON Executive Protection Themed Targets

Click here to learn more about the ICON VIP Protection Target Line.

Rupert Murdoch Attacked During News Corp Hearing

Rupert Murdoch narrowly avoided what at least initial reports claim to be a pie on the face live on international television.   As Mr. Murdoch and his son neared the end of testimony on the News Corp Phone Hacking scandal, an unknown assailant rushed into the area carrying a tin plate that contained a white cream substance.

Interesting enough, one of the first persons that appeared to respond was Mr. Murdoch’s wife Wendi Deng, (in the pink) who jumped up and lunged at the attacker with an open hand yelling “no, no”.   Law enforcement then reacted grabbing the man.    From the vantage point of the camera, no members of the Executive Protection team could be identified responding, but here’s hoping they were onsite and just slightly out of frame.

Click HERE for an initial report

*Updated*  From the video it appears as if a member of Mr. Murdoch’s Close Protection Team jumps up to respond from the right of the frame.

A Timeline on the Special Forces Defeat of Bin Laden

The US Navy Seals executed an operation that resulted in the led to the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011.  Here’s what we know so far:

* Four years ago: Officials uncovered a courier’s identity who they believe may have strong ties to Osama.

* Two years ago: Investigators identified areas of Pakistan where the courier and his brother lived.

*  August 2010: The residence of the courier and his brother was found in Abbottabad, 30 to 35 miles north of Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital.

* September 2010: The CIA worked with President Barack Obama “on a set of assessments that led it to believe that in fact it was possible” bin Laden may be at the compound in Abbottabad.

* February 2011: U.S. officials concluded there was a “sound intelligence basis” for pursuing bin Laden at that location.

* March and April 2011. President Barack Obama held a series of National Security Council meetings “to develop courses of action to bring justice to Osama bin Laden.” There were at least five NSC meetings — March 14, March 29, April 12, April 19, and April 28.

* April 29, 2011. President Obama gave the final order to pursue the operation.

* May 2, 2011. After months of decision-making and planning, a U.S. military team conducted a small helicopter raid on the compound. The officials did not provide a breakdown of team members, but a senior U.S. defense official said U.S. Navy SEALs were involved in the operation.

The senior administration officials provided these details of the raid:

* The team was in the compound for 40 minutes. It did not encounter any local authorities during the raid.

* Bin Laden resisted the assault force and died in a firefight. Along with bin Laden, three adult males were killed.

* Two were believed to be the couriers and one was a son of bin Laden.

* A woman used as a human shield by a male combatant died and two women were injured.

* A helicopter was lost because of mechanical failure.

* Intelligence on bin Laden was not shared with Pakistan and other countries.

* After the raid, U.S. officials briefed Pakistani and other world leaders.

* Bin Laden has been buried at sea and his body was handled in the Islamic tradition.  (via CNN)

Tom Brady & Gisele Bodyguards to Appear in Court Over Shooting

The true art of Executive & VIP Protection involves not only safeguarding your clients well-being, but also their reputation. Here’s how NOT to protect your client:

A trio of Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady’s bodyguards will have their day in Costa Rica court after allegedly firing shots at paparazzi during the couple’s wedding two years ago.  Miguel Solis, Manuel Valverde and Alexander Rivas are slated to attend a “private oral hearing” in Puntarenas on April 29, after charges were filed by Agence France-Presse photographer Yuri Cortez and Rolando Aviles of Costa Rican newspaper Al Dia.

the report says that the photographers were on public property when private security guards forced them back onto private property, demanding they turn over their photographic equipment, when one of the bodyguards fired his weapon at the photographer’s vehicle when they attempted to leave scene.

In addition it looks like their clients may also have to give testimony in the incident. If there was an immediate threat, that’s one thing, however it does not appear to be the case at all in this instance.  What a wonderful wedding gift courtesy of the security team.

Source

See Related: Security vs. Paparazzi at Gisele’s Wedding

Pirates Attempt to Seize US Flagged Ship for Third Time

Suspected Somali pirates tried to seize the Maersk Alabama again on Tuesday in the third attempt to hijack it in three years.

Four people suspected of being pirates approached the ship in a skiff in which a hook ladder could be seen. When the skiff came within half a nautical mile, the ship’s captain authorized the firing of warning shots.

“Maersk Alabama was approached by a suspicious skiff with four people and a ladder onboard,” said Kevin Speers a spokesman for Maersk Line Limited, the U.S.-flag subsidiary of Denmark’s Maersk Line.

“The captain followed the appropriate protocol and authorized an embarked security team to fire warning shots in order for the pirates to turn away (emphasis mine ~ES). Shortly after, the small boat departed the area astern of the vessel,” Speers said in a statement.

Tuesday’s attempted hijacking was the third time pirates have tried to seize the U.S.-flag container ship. The first two attempts occurred in 2009.

In the spring of 2009, pirates succeeded in boarding the 1,100-TEU containership, which was recaptured by the crew, which had been hiding in a safe room. Capt. Richard Phillips turned himself in to the pirates in exchange for one of his crew, but when the pirates reneged on a deal to free him in exchange for one of their men, U.S. Navy SEAL snipers killed two of his captors in a lifeboat where they were holding him. (See video)

For the full story, click HERE.

Bodyguard Fights to Stay in US

Ran across an very interesting  article regarding Nikolaos Skokos, the bodyguard to international singer Celine Dion and his battle against the US Department of Homeland Security to obtain a  permanent Visa.   Mr. Skokos, a Canadian resident is petitioning to stay in America under a little known immigration policy that that allows “aliens of extraordinary ability” — whether they are scientists, artists, athletes or in this case Executive Protection Agents — to become permanent residents.  the challenge is that Mr. Skokos has had to prove that “extraordinary ability” to the US Government.

Fascinating.

For the full story, click HERE.

What Happened to Lara Logans Security?

Security Professionals always look at incidents of violence perpetrated against public figures with a slightly different perspective than the general public.  Such was the case when I heard about the tragic story of CBS News Corespondent Laura Logan.  The journalist was a victim first of detention by the Egyptian authorities and following her release and return to the region a brutal assault by a mob.

The offical account goes as such:  The evening of the attack, Ms. Logan, 39, the network’s chief foreign affairs correspondent, was covering the celebrations in Tahrir Square in central Cairo with a camera crew and an unknown number of security staff members. The CBS team was enveloped by “a dangerous element” within the crowd, CBS said, that numbered more than 200 people. That mob separated Ms. Logan from her team and then attacked her.

I, as well as scores of my peers, have had first hand experience dealing with massive crows that are whipped into such a frenzy that you can feel the threat looming, so much so that it’s almost a tangible thing.  At that point, independent of even the clients wishes, a decision must be made to leave the area for the safety of the Protectee.  You might get chewed out or even fired later, but your client will live to tell the tale.  After initially hearing this story, the obvious question to me was, exactly how did her secuirty team become seperated from her?

While researching I stumbled upon outtakes of an interview Ms. Logan conducted with Esquire Magazine, conducted after the detention, but before the assault, that appeared to shed a little more light on the incident:

Esquire:  On whom she was traveling with:

Laura: “I’m not the only one going back, my producer is coming with me. And with my husband. We made this decision together. And with my boss.”

Esquire: On the precautions they’d be taking:

Laura: “We’ve made sure that the Egyptian embassy in the U.S. knows we’re going. They’re fully aware of it. They know what our purpose is, that we’re journalists. We’ve made every effort to try and get media accreditation before we left, but the embassy said because of the backup they couldn’t [get it to us], so they’re trying to help us on the ground. There are no surprises here this time. It is a better plan. Again, it’s not foolproof, you know?”

Esquire: On worrying about a repeat scenario:

Laura: “Sure, of course you can never discount [that], it would be foolish to discount that possibility.”

Esquire: On traveling with private security:

Laura: “No. We are not. It’s been so chaotic. I think we do have a security person on with us now, on our team, but I haven’t had a chance to even address that.” (emphasis mine ~ES)

While in no way placing the blame of the assault on Laura Logan herself, I do think at least at the time of the interview, security was an afterthought.   There may or may not have been a trained agent from the states with her, and if there was, his available resources may have been minimal.  It is also likely that a local(s) could have been used, at which point the vetting process could have been anywhere on the scale of “bad” to “very bad’.  It is also possible that none of this was the case and the network provided Mrs. Logan with an equipped team of seasoned security professionals qualified to go into a potential hot spot with their primary responsibility of protecting their client — not of making sure she got an award winning news story.  It’s possible, but based off of my personal experiences, unlikely.

This is a story i’ll be following with great interest, and it is my hope that corporations placing their employees in hostile situations overseas begin to recognize the value of being proactive with security.  Sadly, Laura Logan has paid a high price for that lesson.

~Elijah Shaw

Judge Dismisses Shooting Case Against Blackwater

A federal judge dismissed charges against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards accused of killing 14 Iraqi civilians in a controversial shooting in a busy Baghdad square two years ago in a ruling that sharply criticized the tactics of Justice Department prosecutors handling the case.

The judge, Ricardo M. Urbina of the District’s federal court, found that prosecutors and agents had improperly used statements that the guards provided to the State Department in the hours and days after the shooting. The statements had been given with the understanding that they would not be used against the guards in court, the judge found, and federal prosecutors should not have used them to help guide their investigation. Urbina said other Justice Department lawyers had warned the prosecutors to tread carefully around the incriminating statements.

The five Blackwater guards — a sixth has pleaded guilty — were indicted in December 2008 on manslaughter and weapons charges accusing them of killing and injuring unarmed civilians.

Federal prosecutors have said the guards killed 14 Iraqis and wounded 20 in an unprovoked blaze of bullets and grenade explosions. The guards’ attorneys have said their clients fired in self-defense after being shot at by insurgents.

The incident, which badly strained U.S.-Iraqi relations, was the most serious one involving private security contractors in recent years, and it raised questions about using such guards in war zones. It so badly stigmatized Blackwater that the company renamed itself Xe Services.

For the full story click HERE.

Industry Spotlight: Close Protection Agent Denida Zinxhiria

Behind the Bodyguard Business holds a spotlight where we feature someone in the Executive Protection, Security or Investigation industry.  Our hope is to provide some insight into our profession and also show newcomers & the media that people from all walks of life and all parts of the globe do this type of work with honor and pride.   No it’s not like the movies, but it can be rewarding, thrilling, and yes, sometimes fun.

Agent Name: Denida Zinxhiria

Company Name: Athena Academy & Athena Worldwide LLC

Website: www.athenaacademy.com

Home city: Athens, Greece

How long have you been in the Close Protection Industry?

I am working in the Close Protection Industry the last 10 years.

What made you decide you wanted to get into the Industry?

I wanted to offer safety to others by consulting them on security issues and also ”live in the industry”.

What kind of duties are you currently involved in?

I am Athena Academy Founder and Worldwide Director, we run a Female-only Close Protection Operatives Academy in Atlanta, GA

What are some of the differences between working as an Operator and a trainer?  Do you prefer one over the other?

One of the differences is that being an Operator, means you have the responsibility of a person’s safety, that by its own can be very stressful for some people. In some Security Details you may be the Team Leader, so you will have to give the right directions to a group of Agents so they all work as one body with one purpose, in some you will be the Security Advance, which includes a lot of logistics and research, and in some just a member of his close protection team, keeping your eyes on the Principal.  You have to adjust yourself in different roles according to your clients needs and the job position you get, keeping in mind that your client’s schedule will be your daily schedule.

From the other hand as a trainer you are responsible to give the right tools and knowledge your students needs, and prepare them as best you can to be able to start their own steps in the Close Protection industry.  After their training you need to be there for them to both assist and consult. Don’t forget the old hold the experience the new require, and the bond an instructor creates with a student can be amazing.

I can say that I do enjoy the both positions, each one of them offers me different array of experiences and personal satisfaction.

Can you share a bit of one of your best experiences in the industry so far?

During my first years in security industry, I, along with a trusted colleague was hired as a support team to protect the 12 year old child of a female CEO. Because we were called after the threats had started, we were amazed by the observation of the 12 year old who had observed more valuable information that some of other agents working for the family. After a couple of weeks, with hard team work and the police investigator’s help, the people who were planning the kidnapping were arrested. I will never forget that child.

What are the challenges of being a Female Protection Agent?  How do you “even the playing field” compared to your male counterparts?

Depending on the country, Female Protection Agents may often have to deal with close-minded people who think that a woman’s positions is in the kitchen.  I seriously have heard that, along with male colleagues that disrespect or doubt a person’s skills just because of their gender.  Other times they will accept a woman working in their team but will be overprotective towards her, or make her feel that her  position is undervalued in comparison to other Detail Members.

I would say if we can educate the industry about what truly makes an exceptional CPO, there will be no need to “even the playing field”.  Executive Protection work requires a much greater percentage for using your head than your body.

If you have the ability to eliminate one thing from our industry, what would it be?

For men to respect and accept the fact that females can be trained exactly as they are, and can offer the same level services to Clients. I believe that opinions come from life experience, so the only way for a doubting male to overcome this prejudice is for them to give a trained female colleague the opportunity to prove themselves.

To those just entering the profession, what advice would you give?

I would recommend to them to research the industry thoroughly. Close Protection is much more than a well paid job and working with celebrities. Being a CPO can mean risking one’s life protecting someone who is not yourself, or your family.    You will be working a lot of hours, so forget the 9-5 job, in short –your client’s schedule will be your schedule.

After they have decided that this is the career they desire to follow, they need to make a good research on the training courses and the licensing requirements (if any). They need to have a lot of willingness to have their eyes open, to promote themselves and not put it down after a 2-3 attempts of sending a CV and getting no responses.

Close Protection Specialist Denida Zinxhiria can be reached at 1.888.LADYGUARD ext 70 or Email: dz@athenaacademy.com