Executive Protection - A Practitioner’s Overview

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Executive Protection -A Practitioner’s OverviewPresented by Robert D. Shuster

Course Overview

Introduction and Objectives Operational Uniqueness / Reactive vs. Proactive Target Selection Criteria Surveillance Objectives Surveillance Methods and Tactics

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Surveillance Detection Route Planning / Unpredictability Counter-Surveillance Protective Intelligence Operational Security “Perimeters” of Protection Advance Security Surveys

Course Overview (cont.)

Types of Protective Details Limited Personnel Operations Weapons – Use and Value Protective Mindset Protective Operations


Protective Vehicular Operations Command Post Operations Emergency Evacuation Plans / Medical Evacuations Personal Relationship Control Protective Courtesies EP as a Small Business

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Introduction and Objectives

Job description

Review the differences in operating tactics from other types of security or law enforcement


Compare the various types of protective details

Overview of skill sets required

Operational Uniqueness

REACTIVE

Law Enforcement / Security

Respond to the problem or situation

PROACTIVE

Executive Protection

Cover and evacuate away from situation


Take charge and gain control of the situation

Often investigate after the fact

Use weapons from behind cover

Take charge and control of the protectee

Protective advances -think ahead to prevent / avoid / divert

They are the cover –weapon limited

Target Selection Criteria

Motivations

Wealth / ransom

Position and status


Politics or controversy

Media worthiness

Personal vendetta or revenge

Leverage for demands

Embarrassment

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Target Selection Criteria (cont.)

CARVER

Criticality – to the operation, company, organization

Accessibility – ease of approach without challenge


Accessibility ease of approach without challenge

Recuperability – can organization easily recuperate

Vulnerability – vulnerable to assault planned

Effect – effects of the assault

Risk – risks relative to the gain

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Target Selection Criteria (cont.)

Make Your Protectee a Less Attractive Target

Unpredictability

Difficult to pinpoint for attack


Evident that security effort is put forth

Continuing protective intelligence

Continuing surveillance awareness

Maintain operational security

Maintaining disciplined protective practices

Surveillance Objectives

Pick a target from set of equally valuable ones using risk reward balance/easiest/predictable

Pinpoint selected target - place and time that is predictable and conducive to the assault to be


predictable and conducive to the assault to be attempted

Seeking a comfortable enough environment within which to attack

Surveillance Methods and Tactics

Tactics may differ from law enforcement surveillance

Usually not as sophisticated and easier to spot

No community cooperation


Following on typical daily routes

Static observation around home or office

Some mobile observation on routes

Inquiries at home, office, or on internet

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Surveillance Methods and Tactics (cont.)

Methods

FootFoot - One person, multiple persons, teams

VehicularVehicular - Cars, trucks, vans, bicycles,


VehicularVehicular Cars, trucks, vans, bicycles, motorcycles, aircrafts, boats

StaticStatic - Observation posts, stake-outs, technical (electronic)


Techniques For Foot Surveillance

One-Man Surveillance

Two-Man or “AB” Surveillance


Three-Man or “ABC” Surveillance

Techniques for Vehicle Surveillance

One-Vehicle Surveillance

Two-Vehicle Surveillance

Multi-Vehicle Surveillance


2A


2

1

1

2

B

B

T

A

6


A

2


T

A

T

BC

C

B

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2


TB

A1

22


T

B

A

1

1

1


TB 22


T

A

A

B

1

2

1

1

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Loose Surveillance

Subjects not kept under constant observation

Harder to detect


Harder to detect

Close Surveillance

Subjects are kept under observation continuously

Surveillance is maintained at all times

Easier to detect


Target Vulnerability Assessment

Residential - the most difficult areas in which to operate


Office - usually easier to observe because there are more opportunities to blend

Surveillants - find a location to monitor activity at the residence or office without being detected


Route Analysis

Times - home to office

Choke points


Choke points

Limited or no alternates

Surveillance vantage points

Possible assault locations

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Hobbies and Family Activities

Are there routine activities

Degree of public exposure


Degree of public exposure

Any other common pattern activity

Possible source of information


Collect Information and Document Activity

Trash, pretext calls, door to door ruses (surveys, sales calls, servicemen…)


Video and still photography

Document exact times, places, and circumstances

Personal descriptions/vehicle descriptions

Maps of routes

Any protective practices

Surveillance Detection

What are You Looking For?

Repeats of people or vehicles

Out of place for the environment


Strange behavior or actions – people who act like they’ve been caught doing something

e.g. quick reversal, quick look away, walking fast while looking across the street

People taking photographs of your home

especially from inside a vehicle

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Surveillance Detection (cont.)

Where Should You be Looking?

Around home, office parking lots, and “choke points” or funnels in between


Daily commuting routes

Frequently visited locations

Most executive kidnappings have been carried out in the driveways or parking lots upon exit or approach of vehicle / you’re distracted!





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Techniques for Spotting Surveillance:

Pay attention

Double backs or reversals


Channeling

Quick direction changes

Have someone else help you look

Counter-surveillance

Do not confront individuals directly

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Surveillance Detection (cont.)Common Mistakes in Vehicular Surveillance Activity:

Parking in prohibited zones

Stopping and starting correlations

P i d ki f tl


Passing and parking frequently

Erratic moves in traffic

False signaling

Running traffic lights or other violations

Flashing lights between vehicles

Constant distancing and ducking





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Counter-Surveillance

Techniques used to draw out surveillance activity

Active counter-surveillance (C/S) - implemented if it does not jeopardize the security mission


Active C/S should be conducted by a C/S team and not by those working close protection

Have C/S team or agent notify local police

Counter-Surveillance (cont.)

Decoy protective movements - effective way to detect surveillance, without altering the principal’s schedule

Stationary C/S points along the traveled routes


Stationary C/S points along the traveled routes record license plates / descriptions of suspicious vehicles following the motorcade

Conducted for several days to compare and evaluate observations of any recurring vehicles or individuals

Route Planning / Unpredictability

Employ the Concept of Designed Randomness

Route variance – how many?

Time variance – how much?


Create an unacceptable window of discomfort

A protective level of unpredictability incorporates 2-3 different routes and a 1-1.5 hour time window

Modify your route once out of immediate neighborhood and vary departure/arrival times

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Route Planning / Unpredictability (cont.)


Route Planning / Unpredictability (cont.)


Protective Intelligence

Any information that assists in making mission decisions and designing protective security measures

Identifies and evaluates persons, groups, or


activities which may present a danger to the protectee

Increases agent knowledge of the environments

Sources of information are limited only by your imagination

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Operational Security

All scheduled movements

Protective capabilities

Create illusion of larger detail


Vehicle rotation if possible

Limit what is available on internet

Don’t share with others unless necessary for operation

Don’t discuss special equipment if any

Don’t discuss spending, travel, life-style habits, etc.

“Perimeters” of Protection

Concept of Protective Rings

Three concentric circles around the protectee

inner most circle - the protective escort agent(s)

th t i l th i di t it i t


the next circle - the immediate security perimeter

the third - advance work/planning/protective intelligence

Even small 1-2 person protection teams can have these circles with assistance from other sources

Remember that people have to want to help you

Advance Security Surveys

Know the conditions at a location before you arrive

Affect those conditions through preparation

Foresee problems and take steps to prevent or


Foresee problems and take steps to prevent or minimize - better than reacting to them when you arrive

Trip advances - done to coordinate out of town travel

Site advances - done to coordinate sites visited on those trips or during local everyday movements

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Advance Security Surveys (cont.)

General Components of Trip Advances:

Pre-trip country or city research and intelligence

Airport advance – both ends


Airport advance both ends

Hotel advance – other lodging

Site visit advance(s) –meetings/events/meals/entertainment

Advance Security Surveys (cont.)General Components of Trip Advances: (cont.)

Ground transportation coordination – route planning / route running

E i di ti


Emergency service coordination

Other entity coordination – host venue, local police, other security involved, etc.

Possible country evacuation


General Components of Site Advances:

Routes with alternates to the location

Preferred arrival points – vehicular and on foot


Secured vehicle parking

Venue layout with exits/entrances noted

Security posting – access control

Primary occupancy area for visit – seating, stage, crowd expected, etc.

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General Components of Site Advances: (cont.)

Expected agenda and duration of the visit

Amenities – restroom, safe holding area, VIP area, etc.


Amenities restroom, safe holding area, VIP area, etc.

Coordination with any other entities – host groups, law enforcement, venue security, company associates, etc.

Emergency evacuation routes

Departure plan

Types of Protective Details

Single Protectee

24/7 protective operations including residential and travel


Full daytime activity protection without residential –local only or including travel

Portal to portal – limited duration protection – local only – single protectee

Executive travel only

Types of Protective Details (cont.)

Multiple Protectees

Visiting protectee – 24/7 with hotel coverage

Visiting protectee – portal to portal – event related


Visiting protectee portal to portal event related

Recurring or one time visits

Security driver only for a quick city visit

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Types of Protective Details (cont.)General Dynamics of 24/7 Protection

Single protectee and family – relationship develops

Routine patterns becomes a challenge - protectee must work with the detail on unpredictability


p y

In the home and office environment – privacy balanced with good security

Travel with the executive - maybe continued residence security while the executive is away

Executive choice vs. board choice

Level of cooperation may differ

Types of Protective Details (cont.)General Dynamics of Part-Time Protection

Different protectees or repeat visits by the same

Relationship development limited

R d d d f ti tt


Reduced danger of routine patterns

Usually not in the home or office environment – but privacy still an issue

Usually an organizational requirement for the engagement as opposed to personal choice

Executive usually cooperative because of the nature and cause for the temporary protection

Limited Personnel Operations

Remember Your Priorities and Mission Objectives

Highest priority - the ability to cover and evacuate the principle from danger


A very close second - never having to do so because you have pre-empted trouble through good advance preparation

How do you work a protective detail by yourself?

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Limited Personnel Operations (cont.)

Consider the “Leapfrogging” Method

Continually hopping out in front of a protectee’s vehicular movements - meeting curbside for escort


Once the next movement is at hand, you hop out ahead again - continues throughout the day

Leaves time during the day without physically being near the protectee

Which is more dangerous – leaving coverage gaps or having movements into unadvanced locations


One Agent

Always do some basic advance work via telephone

Discuss what the protectee is more comfortable with


Discuss what the protectee is more comfortable with

Use other resources like location security, other staffers, executive drivers, etc. to gather advance information

Use any form of assistance that is available to you corporate resources / contracted resources / staff


Two Agents

Two dedicated agents – one remains with the protectee and one on continual advance movement


Occasional double coverage if possible in between

Factors which will vary your approach - specific circumstance/location/event/routine/visibility/profile/many others

There is no one best way

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Weapons – Use and Value

Inner circle protective personnel - firearms are not recommended

Cover with your body and evacuate the protectee out of the situation


Do not shoot it out and draw fire towards the protectee

Only exterior perimeter personnel away from the inner formation should be armed

Must attempt to draw fire away from the formation – not shoot in place

Protective Mindset

Protective Mindset Throughout the Day

Constant concentration

No daydreaming

Focus on surroundings


Focus on surroundings

Thinking ahead – stay off the X

Mental Awareness Drills

Am I prepared to react

Do I know what is right outside my immediate environment

Am I ready for our next movement

Protective Operations

Concepts of Formations and Positioning

360 degrees visual responsibility – divided

Spacing – reaction and discretion


Unobtrusive – low key

Individual reactions of each position

See first/enter first

Occupied area/immediate surroundings

Best positions/best compromises

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Protective Operations (cont.)Multiple Agents

360 visual responsibility divided

Communication between

Single Agent

Still 360 visual – danger probability

Communication with any


team members

Immediate reactions of each position

Positioned to cover and evacuate

Communication with vehicles

one else helping

Immediate reactions

Positioned to cover and evacuate

Communication with driver

Diamond Formation


Box Formation


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2 Person Positioning


Stairway Positioning


Escalator


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Elevator Entry


Fence Line Situation


Receiving Line


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Head Table


Stage


Protective Operations (cont.)

Physical Immediate Action Guidelines:

Cover and evacuation drills

Close in assault response


Close in assault response

Vehicular evacuation or shelter in place

Emergency situational assessment

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Protective Operations (cont.) Communications

Agent to agent/drivers – radios, briefings

Agent to CP – radios, cell phones, written reports


CP to corporate security – cell phones, written reports, logs, etc.

Emergency services – cell phones, visits

Protective Operations (cont.) Residential Concerns

Physical security/access control

Security systems


Family security procedures

Personal and privacy issues

Protective Operations (cont.)

Emergency Contingencies

Medical emergency

Law enforcement response


Law enforcement response

Community emergency

Total evacuation from the area

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Protective Vehicular Operations

General Considerations

Managing the vehicles

Managing the drivers


Managing the drivers

Protective motorcade operations

Evasive driver training

Special equipment to consider

Protective Vehicular Operations (cont.)

Arrivals and Departures

Daily commuting routes/variance to alternates

Advance agent meeting curbside


Advance agent meeting curbside

Communication with the drivers

Positioning the vehicles

Agent positions around the vehicles

Smooth transition to walking formation


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Command Post Operations

The Residential Command Post (CP)

Center of communication, documentation, equipment, camera monitoring, intelligence and logistics for the detail

Set up in the basement / garage of protectee’s home


Set up in the basement / garage of protectee s home

Team member dedicated to staffing the CP - coordinates all team communications and tracks whereabouts of the detail – active post

Coordinates with family on all visitors or service


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Command Post Operations (cont.)The Office Command Post (CP)

Alternate location if protective operations are not 24/7

Located on the executive floor near the protectee’s office


Center for communication, documentation, executive transportation, travel coordination and planning of the executives daily movements

Coordination with executive assistant

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Command Post Operations (cont.)


Command Post Operations (cont.)The Temporary Command Post (CP)

Typically in a hotel room – adjacent to protectee’s room

If mobile perimeter cameras are set up - CP agent will monitor those as well – active post


monitor those as well active post

All necessary maps, contact lists, itineraries, emergency protocols and numbers, daily activity logs, incident reports, agent necessities, valuables storage, etc.

Focal point for all operations for the detail on travel


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Emergency Evacuation Plans/ Medical Evacuations

Reaction plans for various emergency situations

Each team member understands their role in the process

Coordination and directives not all dictated on the fly d i th f i f th t


during the confusion of the event

Plan for the worst – hope for the best

Emergency Evacuation Plans/ Medical Evacuations (cont.)

Examples to Plan For:

An assault attempt at the home

An assault attempt during daily commute


A fire related incident at the home

Fire or other evacuation required at the office

A health related incident

Media or crowd “rush” at an event


Types of Activities to be Coordinated:

Who will cover the protectee immediately

Who will coordinate communications


Possible safe havens

Primary and alternate evacuation routes

Where will the vehicles stage and specifically locate for evacuation from a site

Routes to the hospital from all stops

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Medical Evacuation

Decision making regarding rerouting to hospital in an emergency


Will air transport be required

Coordination with emergency response personnel –police/fire-rescue/govt. agents/etc.

Who is trained for administering first aid/CPR

Who will notify all required parties and family

Personal Relationship Control

Eventually you will develop a close personal relationship with the protectee, family member(s) or both - When does that become dangerous?

Far more likely on a full time 24/7 protective detail


Far more likely on a full time 24/7 protective detail

They treat you as a friend and not a professional -will resist listening to your advice when inconvenient for them

Remember that you really don’t “run in their circles”

Control attractions – they are a distraction

Protective Courtesies

Discuss with protectee how you operate during foot and vehicle movements

What you see on the job is never discussed outside the job


Errands become part of the drill - control them if they diminish focus on protection

Be as unobtrusive as possible

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Protective Courtesies (cont.)

You are protecting their dignity as well as the physical person - family secrets

Children are a challenge - if they like you and understand you they are much easier to work with


understand you, they are much easier to work with

Uncooperative teens can be a nightmare

EP as a Small Business

When the glamour wears off – tedious work

Understanding the client relationship

Your limits of authority when out of law enforcement


Your limits of authority when out of law enforcement

Tapping the “professional courtesy” network

Regional markets

Licensing/insurance/liability/pricing/expenses/marketing/geographic reach/networking/etc.

Questions?

Robert D. Shuster

[email protected]

1.440.878.5114


1.440.878.5114

www.imacservices.com

Executive Protection - A Practitioner’s Overview

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