Q) What should employers know about personal protection services?

A) Security requirements in an uncertain world faced with covert threats has encouraged many corporations, executives and individuals to explore their options for personal/executive protection. Personal protection, executive protection and bodyguard all mean the same thing — someone providing personal security for one or more individuals.

Texas regulates the personal protection industry, licensing professional services through the Texas Department of Public Safety, Private Security Bureau in Austin.

When employing personal protection (bodyguard services), the employer should make sure he is dealing with professionals who are Texas certified, licensed and insured.

Personal protection officers are subjected to background checks and psychological evaluation. They must also complete required training and examinations that include personal security, self-defense, defense of a third person and firearms qualification. Continuing education for license renewal every two years is another statutory requirement and includes firearm proficiency recertification.

TDPS issues official identification pocket cards with photographs to certified personal protection officers. All personal protection officers are required to carry a TDPS-issued identification pocket card with photograph while on duty. Without exception, anyone providing these professional services must possess a TDPS-issued pocket card or have full-time employment as a peace officer.

The professional personal protection officer is highly trained to deal with any potential threat and other issues that arise. When necessary, the personal protection officer can be a high profile visible deterrent to a potential threat. However, often the officer blends perfectly with his client and surroundings and goes unnoticed to virtually everyone except his client.

In addition to protecting his client from physical harm, the licensed personal protection officer has a contractual and ethical obligation to protect his client from any threat that may cause embarrassment or damage to the client’s personal or business reputation. His first and most effective response is to cover and evacuate the client. Conflict avoidance is the most fundamental concept of professional personal protection.

Trust, discretion and confidentiality are also an ethical and professional obligation. Maximum security may require in-depth consultation and extensive preparation with management and security personnel of establishments such as, hotels, restaurants and entertainment and sports venues. However, client discretion and confidentiality is a requirement and priority.

What are executive protection and security services?

Executive protection services make use of security professionals such as bodyguards, EP agents, or executive protection specialists to protect the welfare and safety of an individual. Executive protection can also extend from physical protection of an individual to protection of a company’s property or assets. In some cases, executive protection professionals also are assigned to help protect an individual’s family.

Who uses executive protection?

Celebrities, corporations, companies, company VIPs, and government officials have all traditionally used EP services to keep themselves, their property, and their families safe. However, in today’s world, more and more everyday individuals are finding that executive protection helps them, too.

Why do people hire executive protection agents?

Everyday individuals hire executive protection for many reasons. EP agents can be crucial in threat assessments, for example, and can help keep those involved in child abuse investigations or domestic abuse investigations safe. If a threat has been made against a person or family, executive protection or bodyguard services can offer protection that local law enforcement cannot.

What is involved in executive protection services?

Usually, a person interested in executive protection will speak to a private investigator who will offer a threat assessment to determine whether a risk exists and what that risk may be. If the client and investigator decide that executive protection is a good idea, one or two agents (either armed or unarmed, depending on the situation) are assigned. These agents go where the individual goes and they aim mainly to provide non-invasive, non-confrontational avoidance, which means that their main concern is to stay out of the way and without aggression to prevent incidents or security risks from arising. If the person who is being protected n threatened, the agents can step in to defend that person, can seek help from law enforcement, and can generally do many things to help defuse the situation. Their main concern in these situations is to get the person they are protecting out of the situation and out of harm’s way.

What should I look for in executive protection professionals?

In most states, executive protection experts or bodyguards need a private investigator’s / security license. However, you should also look for agents who have the skills you need. For example, if you are looking for security in a high-risk area away from home (such as in Israel or the Middle East) look for agents with military and weapons experience. If you are looking for someone to protect you and your property and company systems, look for agents with computer knowledge. Interview several executive protection professionals to find someone you trust and feel comfortable with.