Executive Protection – The Slippery Slope

Written by Tibi J Roman

Are the following scenarios acceptable as an executive protection professional, specifically for a bodyguard? 

1. Holding an umbrella for an executive/VIP
2. Picking up the VIP’s morning coffee (i.e.Starbucks) so that it’s waiting for the executive in the morning prior to their first limo departure to the office.
3. Carrying shopping bags or grocery bags for a VIP
4. Pushing the VIP’s shopping cart
5. Carrying or rolling the VIP’s golf bag
6. Carrying or rolling the VIP’s luggage at an airport
7. Running errands for the executive, i.e.dropping off/picking up the VIP’s dry cleaning without the VIP, etc.  

Why use the term “Slippery Slope?” 

When an executive protection professional i.e. bodyguard, arguably performs questionable tasks to assist their executive this may lead to becoming complacent or more passive and compliant by performing activities or functions that are clearly not related to security, (hence the Slippery Slope). 

In the past, I have read heated exchanges between executive protection professionals addressing the umbrella topic, as a bodyguard is it your duty or role to hold an umbrella for an executive? 

This sensitive topic occasionally flares up when photos or a video appears on social media where well-known entertainers or high-net-worth individuals are observed with a bodyguard who is holding an umbrella for them. One of the more recent heated exchanges among security professionals occurred after Kendall Jenner’s bodyguard was observed holding an umbrella for her. Then there was Miley Cyrus who was at the 2024 Grammy Awards where it appeared that her bodyguard was possibly holding a closed tactical umbrella. If you complete a Google search you will find a considerable number of articles on this topic, for example, “19 Celebrities Who Can’t be Bothered to Hold Their Own Umbrellas.” (In Style 2017) 

A significant number of executive protection professionals from the private sector who expressed their online opinion took a very strong position that holding an umbrella for an executive was not only an acceptable practice it is an expected duty and protocol that they follow.

Some individuals articulated that this is consistent with their protective training where they held their instructors in high regard. One protective manager noted that he would have an issue with his staff if they did not hold an umbrella for their VIP indicating that this was a deal breaker if they wished to remain employed. 

Umbrellas 

It is recognized that by holding an umbrella for an executive, the bodyguard can assist in keeping the executive dry from the elements (rain, snow, and hail). This may include shielding the VIP from the direct sun or wind to blocking the media, protesters, paparazzi, fans, and the general public from viewing, taking photos or video of their executive. 

It is further recognized that “tactical” umbrellas have some positive benefits. If you google “tactical, “assault” or “self-defence” umbrellas you will read that these modified umbrellas may have reinforced hardware, steel tips, and they are “designed to withstand harder impacts” etc.

I am not an authority on tactical umbrellas, however, I do have significant concerns when I see advertisements for “bulletproof” umbrellas. I concur with one online comment noting that the “sheer fabric weight” that would be required is problematic. It would be too heavy and a challenge to simply hold once it is opened.

If you work in the security field, you have hopefully received training in the “Use of Force Spectrum”. In policing this is taught in the academy, and it should be part of ongoing refreshers. This form of training must also apply to civilian executive protection professionals. 

The Use of Force Spectrum (intervention escalation) in ascending order includes: 

1. Officer Presence
2. Communication (Verbalization)
3. Empty-hand control
4. Less lethal Methods–an intermediate group of weapons between empty hand control and firearms. This will include tactical umbrellas.
5. Lethal force– This includes firearms and “any other weapon or technique used in a manner that is likely or intended to cause grievous bodily harm.” 

If you use a regular or tactical (assault, self-defence) umbrella as an intervention tool in relation to a problem individual, you typically will fall under the less lethal category (number 4). In my professional opinion by holding an umbrella at a minimum there is a potential to reduce your effectiveness under the empty-hand control option (number 3). 

Bodyguards cannot afford to be tied up with priorities as they must be free to deal with an emergency. Yes, based on the Use of Force Spectrum as a bodyguard you may need to move from number 1 to number 5 on the spectrum however this is extremely rare. With all the training and refreshers that police officers receive in the use of force, they do not always get it right. This becomes vastly evident in cases that are played out on the evening news and through social media. 

As an executive protection company owner/manager or an executive protection supervisor it is also your responsibility to ensure your staff have “Use of Force” training. 

I have been a bodyguard on many occasions, for private citizens, Ambassadors, Consul Generals, Premiers, Chief Justices, Governor Generals, current and former Prime Ministers to Presidents. I have never held an umbrella for any of these executives or assisted in the activities listed on page 1 from A to G. 

As a Bodyguard, I always kept my hands free or at least I tried to. Here is one story where I was not that successful. 

I was one of the Dalai Lama’s bodyguards on his visit to British Columbia. The Dalai Lama attended a large community event at a Vancouver hotel. When the event was over, we walked him to a dedicated elevator. 

Once inside as the elevator door started to close, the Dalai Lama proceeded to gingerly hold my left hand. My first thought — kind of cute (clearly an endearment gesture). This, however, quickly changed to be a concern as he kept holding on. I made my hand go limp trying to wiggle free to no avail. I then looked over to another bodyguard before the elevator door opened, my facial expression would have conveyed, “Houston (Graham) we have a problem.” I then realized that the Dalai Lama was also holding Graham’s hand as well.

My focus changed from trying to be vigilant to worrying, feeling that there could be media at our landing taking photos and videos of the 3 of us holding hands. As the doors opened prior to stepping out of the elevator the Dalai Lama promptly released my (our) hands. Whenever I chatted with Graham about this memorable experience, I was quick to remind him that my left hand was tied up however my shooting hand was still free J. A good laugh now but not so much on game day! 

Rainy Day Option 

I am from Canada the Vancouver B.C. area. Online, it shows that Greater Vancouver’s annual rainfall is 146-252 cm. There have been many occasions when I have provided close protection when it was raining, I did not directly shelter the VIP from the rain as there are other practical options and protocols that can be followed. 

For example, I was in charge of a full-time close protection unit where I also filled in as a bodyguard, driver, advance, and site person “as & when” required. My VIP would leave her home from the rear of the residence where she would walk through her backyard to the back alley where our limo was running.

When the VIP’s executive assistant was not present I would open one of our umbrellas and hand it off to her upon her exiting her residence, I then led her out. I was able to be just ahead of her opening the gate and her limo door. As the executive lowered herself down into her rear passenger seat, she released her umbrella to me as I started to close her door.  

General Information about umbrellas 

As a bodyguard, you (and the limo driver) should ideally have 2 appropriate umbrellas in the Limo. They should be larger umbrellas, a solid darker colour (Black, Charcoal/Dark Grey, or navy blue) with no patterns. The umbrella should have no writing on it. You do not want your VIP to advertise a product or draw attention. 

Arguably, your job as a bodyguard is to ensure that there is always an appropriate umbrella available not to hold one. 

Executive Protection training courses 

The way we all perform our executive protection duties will largely be guided by both our experiences and our training. 

If you feel that you attended a well-established reputable executive protection training course with seasoned and respected instructors, you will likely follow their protocols and recommendations in relation to holding or not holding an umbrella.

In the private sector, I can understand that there is a tremendous amount of pressure to please your VIP. At the end of the day, if the person who pays your wage and or your supervisor expects you to hold the VIP’s umbrella and perform other tasks that are not specifically related to the VIP’s safety and security, this is what you may choose to do in order to keep your job and remain employed. Based on my professional opinion and from a pure security perspective, this does not mean that this is recommended as it is not a good security practice or protocol. 

My formal executive protection training is largely through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I also instructed and assisted with VIP Security training which included the National VIP Security course.

This course was revamped and is now referred to as the close protection course. As per my training, as a bodyguard, I always kept my hands free. Good sense must prevail.

For example, if the VIP is arriving or departing from the airport and I am part of a small security detail, as a bodyguard I will place and remove the executive’s luggage to and from our limo/vehicle. The limo driver must remain in the driver’s seat ready for a prompt departure. All executive protection professionals must always be vigilant and cognizant of the elevated security risks associated with all vehicle arrivals and departures. 

Job Security 

While working in close protection as a police officer and a federal government employee I never worried about losing my job. If I did not hold the umbrella for my VIP I knew that I would not be transferred, my position was safe, and I would be fully supported by my supervisors. There was also uniformity where VIP / Protective Services section members followed the same protocols, we did not hold umbrellas for our executive.

I expect that there are some executive protection bodyguards, travel officers, or personal security officers who are government employees, however, they may feel the need or pressure to be well-liked and to do more (i.e. hold an umbrella, etc.) as their VIP can have them replaced. 

Thought-provoking comments and recommendations

If the VIP has an Executive Assistant (EA), Chief of Staff Deputy Chief, etc. they should be holding the umbrella for their executive and assist with other tasks that are not related to security. If they have their own event advance person at a site, holding an umbrella (if required) can default to this staffer. 

If your security detail has always held an umbrella for an executive, has it ever occurred to you that the executive prefers to hold their own umbrella? 

Some executives may feel that this is in fact a bodyguard’s role, so they are passive in allowing executive protection professionals to simply perform their duty.

It is recognized that some executives i.e. in the entertainment industry may seek out or want attention, preferring that the bodyguard holds an umbrella for them. In the political world, it is my professional opinion that this is not the norm. 

Warning – If you are a bodyguard who seeks attention and or tries to get captured on TV, newspaper, etc. with your VIP, you should find another profession. 

As a bodyguard what will you do if your executive is with their spouse/partner? They may wish to be close to their partner holding an umbrella themselves versus relying on their bodyguard (s). 

Holding an umbrella for an executive may draw more attention towards the VIP. For example, I was providing close protection to an ambassador when we were swarmed by protesters (a story and learning opportunity for another day). 

This ambassador and his male associate were clearly not recognized as the protester holding a megaphone initially concentrated on the wrong male. If I was holding an umbrella for the ambassador my VIP would have been singled out. During this altercation, it was vital for me to have both my hands free. 

It does not matter if you have 1,2, 3, or 4 bodyguards, you should be aware that bodyguards must be flexible in their positioning based on their environment, approaching subjects, the executive’s movements, etc.

If you are the lone bodyguard and you see a skateboarder, biker, or a couple of people occupying most of the sidewalk approaching you and the executive, this may require you to walk slightly ahead of the VIP forcing the oncoming traffic to modify their path. 

You may need to modify your position based on vehicle traffic, crosswalks, buildings, structures, the road surface, businesses, or when rounding a corner, etc. You should not be focused on keeping the executive dry by holding an umbrella in a proper position. 

If you have 4 bodyguards in a box or in a diamond formation, they must be flexible in their positions. Using a box formation, as an example, if you are the front left bodyguard and the executive decides to turn around, that bodyguard may temporarily become the rear right bodyguard.

The person that was in that position would then be in the front left bodyguard position. An umbrella handoff would be awkward and totally inappropriate. Note, if there are 4 bodyguards in a box formation with a personal security officer (PSO – 5th BG) with no support staff it, would be acceptable for the PSO to hold an umbrella as there are 4 bodyguards. 

When an armoured vehicle is used, the doors will be very heavy and the VIP’s passenger door may also have an exterior door release. You would need both hands free to effectively open and close the VIP’s door for an armoured limo. (unless you have a designated door opener). 

When it comes to blocking or shielding public/media or paparazzi view, there are better options available such as using an alternate arrival or departure entrance or exit to changing your walking route. 

This can be effectively achieved if you have completed an advance (highly recommended). If you did not complete an advance (significant mistake) obtaining assistance from an executive protection advance /site person should be in place. A competent and switched-on executive protection site security person can be very effective and invaluable. 

Note – It is important to also recognize that when a bodyguard is holding an umbrella and if they angle their non-transparent umbrella in order to shield the executive by blocking or minimizing onlooker view, they have just reduced their own field of view, this is not recommended for obvious reasons. Even when there is a stronger wind it is not uncommon to angle your umbrella towards the wind, this will reduce a bodyguard’s view. 

In the above photo do you have any concerns with the bodyguards positioning etc.? 

A few general observations and concerns with the above bodyguard/VIP photo: 

• The bodyguard appears to be drier than his VIP.
• The VIP should not be positioned next to the roadway and vehicle traffic
• The VIP would be safer away from the approaching bicycle, especially with her exposed purse. 

• When there is water pooling on the roadway the VIP may get splashed or soaked based on her position. 

• The bodyguard’s field of view is partially obstructed by the umbrella
• The executive and bodyguard are walking with the traffic flow on a busy one-way street. The limo should be shadowing (a little harder in the private sector). You do not want the limo passing the executive. If the limo is required, you cannot afford to take time for the limo to circle around. 

• The bodyguard and the limo driver must have good communication. For example, as a bodyguard, I want to ensure that my limo driver is able to shadow and be positioned so that my walking direction coincides with the vehicle traffic direction. 

Reactionary Gap 

Time and distance – “reactionary gap.” 

All Executive Protection professionals and law enforcement officers should be familiar with the time distance ratio. Also known as the “reactionary gap.” This refers to the safe distance or space between you and an adversary.

The minimum of 21 feet is the generally accepted standard in law enforcement however I have seen some documentation supporting 30 feet.

Based on your executive’s position, status, the event, and the location where the VIP is attending, maintaining a safe distance can be very challenging, not practical and in some cases it is impossible. Arguably, holding an umbrella has the potential to negatively impact your performance and reaction time. 

In the attempted assassination of US President Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton, John Hinckley Jr. fired his revolver 6 times in 1.7 seconds. More recently on May 15, 2024, Slovakian President Robert Fico was shot multiple times in an attempted assassination. Five shots were fired in close range within several seconds. 

In the attempted assassination of former President Trump at the Pennsylvania campaign rally on July 13, 2024, the gunman fired 8 shots in under 6 seconds. 

Mixed Signals 

Within your protective organization or detail, it is vital to be consistent. If one team member holds an umbrella and or performs other non-security tasks for their VIP while others do not, this is a significant problem that must be addressed as soon as possible. This provides the VIP with mixed signals that can be confusing to an executive. 

In the past and on very rare occasions, I have worked with individuals who are protective cruise directors. They initiate trivial conversations with the executive. This type of behaviour is not professional. This includes performing tasks that should not be completed by bodyguards or the security detail. 

For example – After golf I observed one close protection officer cleaning the VIP’s golf clubs at the executive’s temporary accommodation. This is not appropriate. 

Should you obtain coffee for an Executive? 

I am going to take a strong position on this topic. As a bodyguard, you should not be meeting your VIPs bringing them coffee/tea etc. I have heard the term “buddy guard” used on occasion. I do not know who coined this term however it speaks to having coffee in hand for the VIP. Buddy guard implies a closeness, a friendship being less formal and untrained. It is a relaxed casual term that has no place in close protection. 

If you are meeting your VIP with a coffee or have it waiting in the limo, you most likely would have purchased that coffee as close as possible to the VIP’s departure in an effort to make sure the beverage was hot. A seasoned, executive protection bodyguard and driver will be at the VIP’s residence or hotel well in advance making meaningful observations versus waiting in line at a coffee kiosk. 

Let’s look at an example where the VIP is staying at a hotel. 

If you have a scheduled 9 AM departure you should not be rolling up to your hotel at 8:55 AM. A detail-oriented, bodyguard with experience and proper training will arrive early. They will complete a radio check, possibly liaise with the facility’s in-house security supervisor, monitor foot traffic and if required secure a dedicated elevator.

If an elevator access card is required for the VIP floor or the employee elevator, this should already be in place. The bodyguard(s) will need to be prepared for alternate exit options etc. The limo driver should view the alternate entrance options again, and monitor exterior foot and vehicle traffic. They should not be parking their vehicle leaving it unattended in order to obtain a beverage for the executive. 

An executive protection professional’s time needs to be respected and valued. 

Obtaining coffee and other consumable products for an executive is a valet or concierge type of service that must be avoided from a security perspective. It is also an extra unnecessary cost that takes you away from focusing on your protective duties. Any coffee type of service etc. should be left to the executive and or their support staff. 

I have heard the following argument used to justify one bodyguard’s position on greeting their VIP with a coffee. By having a coffee ready for the VIP, the executive does not have to make a stop at a local coffee shop en route to the office. This will eliminate one quick pit stop. 

My response to this is as follows – The VIP’s support staff must do this. 

If the VIP decides they want their morning coffee wishing to stop at Starbucks etc. the security detail (driver and bodyguard) needs to be cognizant of routines and other predictable activity. This may require changing the driving route and or the coffee shop location. It is recognized that it may be a challenge to change an executive’s departure time to accommodate alternate coffee shop locations. 

• You must never go through a drive-through with your executive in the limo.
• Ensure that the VIP does not tweet their location in real-time or establish a pattern or predictable activity. Your threat assessment people should monitor this.
• When the executive assistant etc. orders or pre-orders coffee, they must not provide the VIP’s name, their office, or title.

If you are responsible for a security detail where close protection is provided to a local executive, there should be periodic meetings with the VIP’s Chief of Staff or executive assistant. It is important for your client to be made aware that security-related advances are made to all the venues and sites attended by the VIP and that security-related assessments take place even prior to the VIP’s first movement. 

Carrying shopping bags or luggage, to carrying/rolling your VIP’s golf bag.

I had one awkward situation where my full-time VIP (Consul General) went shopping and he wanted to hand me plastic bags containing his purchases. I advised my VIP that I was sorry and that I needed to keep my hands free. This was accepted by the VIP with no issue. There were no repeated requests moving forward. Again, there must be consistency. Everyone on the security team must follow the same protocol. 

When you accept these types of tasks where you are no longer “hands-free” you may need to deal with other challenges. For example, what are your limits or parameters, are you prepared to hold 2 bags? If your VIP makes a purchase that is heavy, are you prepared to carry the bags or a box with both hands? 

If your bag breaks are you prepared to pick up the items purchased or leave your VIP to obtain another suitable bag? 

Tying up an executive protection professional’s hand(s) is not exclusive to carrying bags, luggage, or golf clubs. For example, there is an article in DailyMail.com featuring the protection of a wealthy sports figure. The author included the following comments, “The four protection officers were dressed in matching navy suits as they walked on either side of the couple.” One of the protection officers carried the VIP’s cocktail beverage for him. 

Running errands for an executive 

At the beginning of my article, I make reference to running errands for an executive, i.e. dropping off/picking up the VIP’s dry cleaning without the VIP. 

These types of personal non-work-related requests are not security-related duties. They are a concern that can be a challenge to navigate. There are also too many potential scenarios however here is one example. If I was at an event site and my VIP was not active, as a bodyguard I would not use my limo driver to run errands for my VIP.

For example, what happens if someone pulls a fire alarm and you need to evacuate the venue location ASAP? As the bodyguard, you cannot have your limo 20 minutes away where they are running errands or picking up something at a store for your VIP.  

Recap and in Conclusion – In my professional opinion

As a bodyguard, it is important to keep both your hands free. By tying up even one of your hands there is a potential that you will be less effective in performing your executive protection duties as a bodyguard. You need to be cognizant of the “slippery slope” and the need to have consistency in the delivery of protective services. 

All the best on your executive protection journey Surgite 

Tibi J Roman 

tjroman.com 

Author of “The DNA of Executive Protection Site Security” 

Photo credits – photos in the Slippery Slope article are AI-generated by Tibi J Roman