In less than 48 hours, back-to-back shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay have left the state of California reeling from one of its bloodiest waves of gun violence in decades.
The latest spasm of a bloody massacre left seven people dead and one gravely injured. The accused gunman opened fire on groups of farm workers using a semi-automatic handgun later found in his car. Authorities arrested the perpetrator not long after the event.
In another deadly rampage on Saturday, 11 people were shot to death at a Los Angeles-area dance hall. Furthermore, the suspect targeted mainly older patrons of Asian descent celebrating the Lunar New Year in Monterey Park near LA. He attempted a failed second attack on a dance studio before shooting himself to death in his getaway vehicle before police closed in.
California Governor Gavin Newsom refers to it as a “tragedy upon tragedy.”
Video of the arrest shows officers approaching a parked car, weapons drawn. Video by ABC7
According to authorities, an actual motive for either of the rampages has yet to be identified. What’s more baffling is that both suspects are men of retirement age. That is much older than is typical for perpetrators of deadly mass shootings.
The circumstances surrounding the massacre at northern California mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay near San Francisco likely stemmed from a workplace grievance.
“ This is a very sad start to a new year as we will likely see even more active shooter events this year than last year, just as we did from 2020 to 2021. And now that the economy is starting to take a downturn, it will likely fuel this situation even more. And unfortunately, as we have seen many times in the past, these terrible events come in threes so I won’t be surprised to see another one in the next few days. The reason there hasn’t been any children killed by fires at schools in the past 70 years is because they are constantly learning and practicing survival methods in the case of a fire. We have got to do the same thing with active shooter survival training if we’re going to start decreasing the number of events and overall body count in these terrible situations. ”
The back-to-back shootings appear to have little in common; other than being yet another deadly massacre that has become numbingly routine in the United States. For many in America, it feels like a never-ending drum of shootings.
From the start of 2023, there has been a total of 39 mass shootings nationwide. Only last week, two gunmen killed six people in a gang-related shooting in Tulare County.
Locations of Mass Shootings in the United States of America
As reported by Gun Violence Archive, California does have a lower firearm mortality rate than most other states in the nation. That means that people who live here are about 25 percent less likely to die in mass shootings.
Right now, that is a poor consolation for the victims of the horrific incidents and those left behind who struggle.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Biden renewed his call for Congress to pass a national ban on assault weapons. Whether or not this will have any effect on the scourge of gun violence across America is questionable. Regardless, the country needs firmer action.
With the rising number of deaths from opioids, there is an urgent need to expand the use of Narcan. It has become a vital tool in fighting an epidemic of opioid addiction. In addition, increasing access to this antidote allows bystanders to help with a fatal overdose and save lives.
The CDC reports that more than 932,000 Americans have passed away from drug overdoses since 1999. In 2020, opioids were implicated in about 75% of drug overdose fatalities. Since 1999, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids — including heroin, prescription opioids, and synthetic opioids — has multiplied by more than eightfold.
Likewise, from 2020 onwards, 69,000 individuals died from opioid overdose. Of those, 82% were brought on by synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
So how can we help to avoid some of this tragedy?
In a Utopian society, we would eliminate the existence of opioids outside of medical use. Sadly, as opioid use becomes more frequent in times of isolation and economic uncertainty: this may never be the case.
Realistically, treating opiate overdose as quickly as possible is the best course of action, which is why the use of Narcan right away is so crucial.
Naloxone: An Overdose Reversal Drug
The generic drug Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, was initially given FDA approval in 1971. A vital tool to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, Narcan comes as a nasal spray.
Narcan works by entering the bloodstream via the intranasal pathway. It then crosses the blood-brain barrier and competitively binds to the same opioid receptors as opiates. Additionally, Narcan has a higher affinity for those opioid receptors and replaces the opiates causing the sedating effects.
The opioid family of medications compromises both legal and illegal substances. The most popular opioids include:
It is essential to talk about the use of Narcan in our EP community given the exponential increase in opioid overdoses over time.
Opioids and their Effect on the Human Body
In recent years, it has dominated the news. Due to the drug’s strength, many other illicit narcotics are “cut” (or combined with) to heighten their euphoric effects.
Fentanyl is added to many narcotics like cocaine and heroin – as well as Percocet, Vicodin, and other painkillers – to increase their potency. Unaware that their drug or medication has been augmented, a user may take their regular dosage to feel high and wind up overdosing as a result of the effects of the fentanyl.
How Do Opioids Work on the Body?
Opioids, such as fentanyl and fentanyl combined drugs, can be injected intravenously, applied topically, taken orally, or inhaled. They attach to opioid receptors in the brain after crossing the blood-brain barrier. The effects of these opioids on the body are extensive, including:
Relaxation,
Euphoria,
Pain relief,
Sedation,
Dizziness,
Drowsiness,
Confusion,
Pupillary constriction,
Slow heart rate, and
Respiratory depression.
Recognizing an Opioid Overdose
An overdose can occur anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours after the use of substances. Signs of an overdose include the following:
Vitals
Hypothermia (Low Body Temperature)
Bradycardia (Low Heart Rate)
Bradypnea (Low Respiratory Rate)
Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure)
Mental Status
Sedated, Comatose
Pupils
Miosis (Constricted)
EP professionals and the Use of Narcan
In the security industry, some providers are sure to encounter illicit drug use by clients, friends, family, or guests. Any individual exhibiting the effects of an opioid overdose will need immediate attention and reversal.
Imagine this scenario: You are accompanying your client on a private yacht. Somebody on board starts to display signs of an overdose. There is no EMS unavailable, making you the initial medical provider.
That is where intranasal Narcan comes into play. As the EP agent, you may be the most qualified or only one prepared to assess and administer the life-saving treatment.
Who Else Should Carry Narcan?
The simple answer is anyone who may have to deal with someone at high risk for opioid overdose. Those who are at the highest risk are:
People who use prescription opioids, especially those taking higher doses.
Children are at greater risk of accidentally ingesting drugs.
People who use opioids in combination with other sedating substances, such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan).
Household members of people in possession of opioids (including prescription opioids).
People with opioid dependence, in particular, follow reduced tolerance.
People who inject opioids.
People who use opioids suffer from medical conditions such as HIV, liver or lung disease, or suffer from depression.
Others who should consider access and use of Narcan are those living or working in areas that see high rates of opioid overdose.
Final Word on Narcan
Narcan does not have to be given to someone “high” or intoxicated on an opiate. Rather, someone eliciting signs and symptoms of an opiate overdose, as indicated by respiratory or circulatory depression, should be administered Narcan.
Other indicators that alert to the need for Narcan are signs of respiratory collapse with shallow, slow breathing, or no breathing. Additional signs include:
Someone cool to the touch,
Clammy with bradycardia, or
Hypotension is an indicator of eminent circulatory collapse.
Furthermore, after the administration of Narcan, a reversal of overdose effects happens within a minute. What’s more, these effects can wear off, depending on the concentration of opiates in their bloodstream. And since the patient can have recurrent opioid overdose symptoms after the initial Narcan treatment, monitoring them following the use of Narcan is crucial.
Remember that giving Narcan in the field to someone severely intoxicated and not showing signs of respiratory or circulatory collapse is not advisable. In this instance, you may elicit severe opioid withdrawal in an opioid-dependent individual.
Disclaimer: If you decide that carrying Narcan is right for you, start by researching the laws of your community, any potential travel destinations, and your employer’s standard operating procedures.
For more information watch this video for a thorough overview of Narcan, and how its administered.
Michael Guirguis, MD is Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Raven Medical Support Group. RMSG provides consulting, medical direction and oversight for private family offices and corporate executive protection programs that perform domestic and international duties. He is an Emergency Room Physician, and Reserve Sheriff Deputy for San Bernardino Sheriff Air Rescue. Dr. Guirguis has extensive experience in Pre-Hospital Care, Tactical Medicine, and EMS.
Traveling to international locations can be an exciting and fruitful experience for the principal. However, it can also carry certain risks that you should consider in order to ensure a safe, secure trip. Fortunately, we will present you with international business travel safety tips for your executive’s trips that you can act on now.
No matter where you travel and how much time you have to prepare, we promise these will come in handy. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
1. Stay Informed About the Destination
Researching the location your executive is traveling to is a must before any international business trip. In addition, learning about the culture, customs, and laws of the country you’re visiting is vital to prepare adequately.
Likewise, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date on international news and events that could impact the travel plans of your executive. These may entail:
Terrorist attacks,
Delayed flights,
Weather changes, and
Road conditions.
To start our list of international business travel safety tips, let’s begin with historical files. These documents include track records from your team’s previous journeys to the said region. In addition, most operational EP teams who travel regularly have a shared database containing paperwork from current and past visits.
In fact, historical files allow you to decrease prep work as they include:
Safety information,
Local contacts,
Hotel accommodation, and
Other relevant details.
2. Utilize Technology
Tech can be security’s best friend when traveling abroad. In fact, protective teams bring radio and Bluetooth-enabled devices with them all the time. This includes international phones and trackers. These devices help them stay connected and aware of the principal’s location, even if protectors are with the protectees in the same room.
Sometimes, the attackers that security has to worry about are those who can pick up on the signals from these devices. That’s why using phones and trackers with high-level encryption is important. For illustration, this includes:
International SIM cards,
Safe Wi-Fi networks,
International VPNs,
Fast data plans, and
International routers.
Similarly, you and your team can use universal apps with a strong reputation for security.
3. Remain Aware of the Surroundings
When prominent business executives are out and about, staying aware of their surroundings is essential for their safety. We refer to this as situational awareness. In other words, this means knowing the area, remaining alert to potential risks, and keeping an emergency plan in case something goes wrong.
It’s also essential that protective agents remain mindful of the principal’s personal items, such as:
Passports,
Credit cards, and
Cash.
To that effect, remember that you are your principal’s most trusted advisor. Therefore, ensure you protect them from theft and fraud by taking these simple yet effective steps. For example, a plan of action may include prevention tactics like:
Staying in familiar groups and environments,
Avoiding certain areas of town or region, and
Employing the power of local support.
For instance, suppose you travel to a far-off region in Nigeria. In this case, we advise against leaving your accommodation at night. Especially avoid wandering the streets without local support staff.
So, even if you think you know the region perfectly, it can be challenging to bypass trouble. A random act might negatively affect your principal’s safety and the security of the people you protect based on:
Opportunity, or a
Planned targeted strike.
4. Engage the Right Security Team
Another tip includes subcontracting a professional security team or detail. This ensures that principals have experienced professionals with them who are knowledgeable about the:
Local culture,
Customs, and
Potential risks in the area.
An exemplary EP team should be familiar with international laws, document all their activities, and provide international travelers with clear communication and instructions at all times.
In case of a bigger security threat, protection staff can reach out to local law enforcement. Likewise, this means that protective agents can consult international EP companies with experience in global travel safety.
5. Stay Secure Online
When protectees are abroad, they must stay safe online as well. There are specific steps security teams should take to keep important information secure while accessing the internet internationally. In fact, poor online security practices can lead to severe consequences. This includes identity theft, loss of confidential information, and even blackmail.
Apart from that, other dangers that often come with digital technology are:
Additionally, protectees should only use payment methods that have robust encryption features.
6. Choose the Right Vehicle
We know many examples of strikes on the principal when departing or entering the vehicle. However, most are easily avoidable with the right mentality, situational awareness, and executive protection gear.
In this sense, there are various types of vehicle sabotage or tampering, some of which include:
Tracking devices,
Mechanical sabotage,
Explosive devices, and
Diversion tactics.
If you believe there is a chance of a malicious attempt based on your risk assessment, you must examine any unfamiliar devices that might be stuck in the vehicle. Under this assumption, other international business travel safety tips would be to guide the protectees to the exit with an escape route.
Also, security should restrict their stay on a stopped vehicle to the absolute minimum. The back seat on the right side of the car is the safest position for your principal. This is because this position is farthest from the first attempt area.
How Is EP Different From Other Security Services?
Executive protection is a specialized form of security that focuses on the safety and well-being of individuals, families, and companies. This is typically a high-ranking executive, UHNW person, or VVIP.
Along similar lines, EP services are often provided by experienced professionals who can:
Assess threats in advance,
Provide advice on safety measures, and
Take action if necessary.
This form of protection differs from general security services because it is tailored to the specific needs and risks associated with traveling internationally. Needless to say, EP focuses on prevention rather than merely reacting to events.
To that effect, executive protection teams will have detailed knowledge of trips and movements — as well as a plan of action, including:
Staying safe abroad can be challenging. With countless security breaches against companies and estates of high-net-worth individuals, attackers may think they have a chance. However, with the right plan, this chance could be reduced to a minimum.
In conclusion, here are our top international business travel safety tips:
Prepare for your international trip by researching important information about the area you are visiting.
Take extra security measures, such as subcontracting local support if needed.
Stay aware of your surroundings when visiting unfamiliar sites and avoid high-risk situations.
Every year, numerous music events and conferences take place around the world, with many high-profile individuals in attendance. However, many event organizers fail to institute proper medical and safety measures before the happening. In this article, we discuss the importance of event security services. Also, we present tips on choosing the right one for your needs as an EP company or contractor — as well as different measures you can take.
Defining Event Security Services
Event security services are integral to ensuring any event’s safety and security. In a nutshell, they include:
Providing surveillance systems or CCTV coverage for additional visual support.
This service is essential to any event, allowing organizers to assuage guests’ security concerns.
Event security has become more prominent now with the endemic of COVID-19. Performers, venues, and organizations have been trying to recuperate financially for the loses incurred over the past two years in conjunction with restrictions set, (i.e. – social distancing).
With this, events will continually try to surpass each other, in turn creating more safety and security risks. Many event goers attend venues for entertainment and not to assess the security framework….which is where we as security practitioners come in.
Security professionals, managers, supervisors, and team leaders must approach event security through a strategic scope, ensuring quality and not quantity. For example, on February 2, 2014, Super Bowl XLVIII took place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with close to 83,000 attendees. Contract security officers were in a high demand to assist with searches and access control, while working concurrent with internal security teams and law enforcement.
Once the announcement was made regarding the venue for the Super Bowl, surrounding contract security organizations were contacted for assistance in recruiting. Granted, most of these men and women working as contract security officers were well-rounded professionals; however, many recruiters would fall into the trap of hiring a pulse, (i.e. – quantity), rather then an experience security officer, (quality).
Regardless of the assignment or venue, it is imperative to produce security in quality over quantity.
Benefits of Hiring an Event Security Service Provider
Having an event security service provider on-site is beneficial in several ways. First, a professional team of guards and personnel can spot potential threats — individuals working together to harm guests or fans that want to intrude into the building — and take appropriate measures to evacuate the protectee or remove the attackers.
Additionally, trained protection staff have the expertise to handle emergencies during high-level events. Mostly, they are present as a deterrent, discouraging potential intruders before they strike. Alternatively, if they find someone suspicious, they could ask the person in question to step aside and perform a security check.
Physical Security Measures
Physical security measures are the most critical part of any event security plan. These measures can include but are not limited to:
The presence of well-trained guards who can detect and intervene against potential threats,
Secured entry points with metal detectors or other similar equipment,
CCTV surveillance systems for additional visibility,
Emergency exits in case an evacuation needs to be triggered quickly.
These tools help ensure a safe environment for the guests and provide essential data that can be used if the authorities need to identify the intruder and prosecute him later on.
Crowd Control Strategies in Event Security Services
Crowd control is an important aspect of any event. It involves preventing overcrowding in certain areas. Also, it helps with efficiently managing the flow of people to maintain safety throughout the event.
As a remedy, professional security teams are equipped with strategies that can help manage large crowds, such as:
Creating marked queues for entry points,
Using trained guards to direct guests to specific locations,
Establishing a strict policy on overcrowded spaces, and
Informing visitors about safety regulations or instructions via announcements or signs.
The event organizer should predetermine the capacity limit for any area to avoid overcrowding. However, this can lead to a security disaster. While cramming as many guests into one space may be tempting, it is important to remember that such actions can put everyone in danger.
Surveillance and Monitoring Solutions
Surveillance and monitoring tools are also essential for event security services. These include CCTV cameras, access control devices, and video analytics software. In this sense, security staff can monitor the activities occurring at the venue in real-time using these solutions. This allows them to take quick action if needed.
Additionally, surveillance systems provide detailed records of all events happening during the entire duration of the event. This can be helpful for post-event inspections or investigations. Also, reliable and secure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity can help ensure smooth operations and communications.
If the security team uses these options, a good connection means they can react quickly and eliminate threat actors.
Similarly, you can implement bug sweeps if the event is a conference where confidential information is disseminated among guests.
To help with that, a professional security team with IT support can manage these systems and ensure safety.
Access Management Systems
Access management systems are essential for controlling who enters and exits the venue. For example, such measures can limit access to sensitive areas or personnel. Likewise, they can track the movements of guests within the event space. In addition, important guests can have unique access cards or badges, while you can deny entry to unauthorized personnel.
Every security team has to learn about ubiquitous access control systems. Then, the protective staff needs to configure measures according to the needs of the organizers before the event and monitor them while it is ongoing. This will ensure that only those with proper authorization can enter and exit the venue.
Why Are Events Sometimes a Target for Intruders?
High-level events, like board meetings, conferences, and music concerts, can attract hostile individuals or groups seeking to disrupt or vandalize them. The presence of notable guests, valuable assets, and large groups of people can sometimes make events a prime target for malicious actors. In addition, they might want to embarrass the executives by making them look bad, embarrassing them, or stealing information.
Also, the lack of proper security measures can make events even more vulnerable. It’s why it is essential to have an effective event security services plan in place, one that addresses all likely threats and prepares the team for any eventuality.
Final Thoughts
Event security services are essential for ensuring the safety of guests and organizers of high-profile and even low-profile events. They involve a range of solutions, such as:
In the case of star-crazed fans waiting outside the premises or being a target of an attacker’s plan, event security service act as a deterrent. Sometimes, with a visual obstacle, the attacker will think twice before striking, and fans will keep their distance, creating a safe situation for protectees, whether they are
Entertainers,
CEOs, or
Other individuals.
So, if your client needs assistance developing an event security services plan, consider working with a professional event security provider to ensure everyone’s safety and peace of mind.
After losing his military affiliations and royal patronages as a result of the civil sexual assault lawsuit against him, the Duke of York is being pressured to pay for his own protection and renounce his dukedom. Prince Andrew’s protection has now become an issue, which is why he needs private security.
Due to his recent scandals, Buckingham Palace is trying to find discreet and acceptable solutions.
Armed Protection Police
Prince Andrew was entitled to a taxpayer-funded security detail of armed police officers who accompanied him on all travels outside of Windsor, Berkshire. Prince Andrew’s function as a royal ambassador, which included close collaboration with the police, is no longer active. As a result, he doesn’t need armed security professionals anymore.
It has been claimed that the annual cost to the public of protecting Andrew might be up to GBP2 million.
The statement from Buckingham Palace doesn’t indicate that the duke has been revoked of his HRH title. Still, it mentions that he will no longer use the title His Royal Highness in any official capacity.
Prince Andrew’s Protection Replaced by Private Security?
The Accusations That Started It
Virginia Giuffre (38) claims she was forced into intercourse with the duke when she was 17 by his associates, including the late sex criminal and financier Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of a British media mogul convicted last month in New York of sex-trafficking girls for Epstein. The duke denies the accusations made against him.
In January 2020, the US prosecutor Geoffrey Berman issued a public statement claiming Andrew has shown “zero assistance” with the investigation.
After Berman claimed that Andrew had “totally closed the door” on assisting with the US inquiry, the prince’s attorneys argue that he has repeatedly volunteered to participate and accuse US prosecutors of deceiving the public and breaking confidentially.
Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan commissioner, stated in August that “no one is above the law” and that she had requested her team to review the evidence again.
Finally, in 2022, after more than 150 military veterans wrote to express their “upset and fury,” Queen Elizabeth II stripped her son of a range of military associations and royal patronages.
In the UK, the decisions concerning which individuals who are provided with armed Police close protection is governed by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee commonly referred to as RAVEC. RAVEC take decisions accordingly on levels of protection for individuals and their residences; review the framework and decisions taken under it regularly. Some individuals are provided protection based purely on their role, such as the Prime Minister and certain members of the Royal Family. Others are allocated protection based on an intelligence-based risk assessment. In the cases of Prince Andrew and Harry, they are no longer conducting Royal duties and the decision has been made that as such they should not be allocated protection at taxpayers costs. They could of course hire private security to protect them and their residences. However, any private protection they acquire would be unarmed. Contrary to recent reports in the UK media, they would not be allowed to be armed with tasers or any other weapons. Tasers are controlled un the Firearms Act legislation in the UK and are described as a prohibited item. It is illegal for anyone other than a police officer to be armed with a taser.
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex lost their functions in the royal family, the issue of taxpayer-funded security for non-working royals was addressed for the first time. When Harry and Meghan announced their choice early last year, their website suggested that the Home Office, via the Metropolitan Police, continue to guard the couple and their son Archie.
Later, the Sussexes landed multimillion-pound partnerships with Netflix and Spotify, with the duke informing Oprah Winfrey that he had arranged for them to pay for his security.
It is unknown whether the King is secretly helping Andrew with his rising legal fees. Prince Andrew gets an income from the King’s Duchy of Lancaster inheritance, plus he may profit from personal investments and endowments from family members. He also receives a naval pension.
As far as we know, private security guards are replacing Prince Andrew’s armed protection police, who are only permitted to use tasers.
Earlier I wrote a short article on my team’s preparations for taking our client to the World Cup in Doha. So I thought I would follow up on some reflections and lessons learned.
Cyber
One of the big things we went into Doha with was the need to protect our cyber footprint and our client’s. So cyber threats were at the top of the list given to us by our protective intelligence team.
We had procured burner cell phones for our team and the principal’s entourage. Our cyber team was concerned about the safety of the Qatari government and FIFA applications required to enter the stadiums and FIFA venues.
The Qatari COVID app, the FIFA app, and the FIFA Hayya card apps contained permission to examine and look at our emails, bank, text messages, and other apps on our cell phones. However, we opted to use burner cell phones with only these applications on them set up through a dead-end email account and an iTunes account.
The Qatari COVID app Ehteraz, which had been required on our initial visit in September, was no longer required. But the Hayya card and the FIFA apps were still needed. We felt we contained the third-party snooping to the burner phones only but still needed to carry a different cell phone to do our EP business and run WhatsApp on.
One thing you could not avoid was the amount of biometric data collected in the stadiums and FIFA venues. Cameras and cyber monitoring were everywhere.
We attempted to mask our cyber footprint as much as possible. To that effect, we used the following:
FARADAY bags for cell phones when not in use,
MiFi WiFi hotspots we brought along with VPNs to protect mobile cell phones and laptops when conducting email of internet traffic.
When not in use, laptops went into FARADAY bags.
COVID
The Qatari government dropped all COVID requirements to enter the country and suspended the monitoring via their own COVID app during the World Cup.
We did hear about numerous people we were in contact with other in-country corporate security teams coming down with Covid while we were there. No COVID reporting was done while we were in the country.
Transportation
As we suspected, traffic at the World Cup would be tough and packed during game times. This was further complicated by restricted parking access to parking lots close to the venue and random road closures by Qatari security during movements by fans to the games.
We had transportation to many games through our sponsor, US Soccer, via buses and bus parking lots. For the games our clients didn’t have parking for, we had to get creative. This required us to borrow passes from other corporate security teams for games they weren’t attending to use to get close to the venue.
Security perimeters for all stadiums had been pushed out significantly for this event giving each stadium maximum standoff from any VBIEDs (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices).
We would send the advance EP agent out early to scout the parking lot and then the gate entry the clients would use. Fortunately, our clients didn’t mind a short hike from the parking lot to the stadium we had to make on several occasions.
Venues #1
All the stadiums had various dedicated lanes for VIP/VVIP drop-offs and for hospitality-level ticket holders. Lanes directing you to other parking lots surrounding the stadiums were subject to random road closures or redirection of traffic to not well-marked roads that had been built and weren’t on maps yet.
We solved this by having the advance agent drop a pin on maps or WhatsApp to allow our local drivers the ability to find them.
Security at the venues included drones flying overhead, remote cameras, and uniformed security forces on the perimeter. Entry points were manned by uniformed security officers hired from various countries, like:
Pakistan,
Turkey,
Morocco,
Africa,
Sri Lanka.
They had basic instructions about what was allowed into the venue and what was not. And minimal leeway to make decisions about making exceptions. The level of expertise and professionalism varied from stadium to stadium. We found large discrepancies between what was looked at in your bag and what was not.
Venues #2
Stadium entry had metal detectors and X-ray machines. Once past those, you were randomly wanded with a handheld metal detector and sometimes patted down. X-ray machine operators had various levels of expertise. My bag was always opened in most stadiums because the X-ray operator was unsure what they were looking at.
My team carried a bag with a basic medical kit, including:
Gloves,
Chest seals,
Blood stoppers,
Tourniquets,
U-shaped cutting tool by Variant, the one called the HUK,
EpiPen,
Battery charger,
Cords,
Small tracking device,
Flashlight, and
Chemlights.
I also carried two flashlights and two cell phones.
I only had one stadium security team really attempt to take items from me at entry or really search my bag thoroughly without me having control of the bag. Most of the time, I was able to physically control my bag and control their access to the contents.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, the security staff was polite, gracious, and genuinely lovely people. Of course, we ran into some who were having a bad day or were not up to par. But they were the exception.
Medical
We received various reports and information about what would happen in a medical emergency, all of which were conflicting. Therefore, we made sure to have sourced a local doctor and hospital we could go to for any issues or emergencies.
We carried two full trauma kits in our vehicles with oxygen and trauma supplies. We had problems sourcing some items we could not fly into the country with, like certain IV supplies and common trauma supplies. But our local sources had connections that finally helped us get what we needed.
Communications
We operated on WhatsApp most of the time, with text and cell phone calls. Secondly, we supplemented our drivers with handheld radios obtained in the country from our local sources for inter-vehicle communication. Thirdly, we carried SAT phones in the limo and follow vehicles for emergency communications.
We utilized small tracking devices in each vehicle and on the person of the EP personnel. That way, we could locate our cars in parking lots and track our personnel.
At the World Cup, we utilized our GSOC to track our daily movements and set up GEO fences around the living quarter and stadiums that alerted the GSOC when we left the residential area and entered certain stadiums’ parking.
The general idea was if we had an emergency where our team needed to be extracted from the country due to a major event, our extraction team would be able to locate us with the tracking devices we had.
Intangibles
We were fortunate to have secured four local drivers who knew the area very well and had local resources they could contact for hard-to-find items and information.
This proved invaluable on multiple occasions as the drivers navigated around and through the stadium traffic jams to quickly get us back to the residential location. The bad thing was these guys were used to being limo drivers, and it took some time to get them used to how to follow and block for the lead driver.
Most bus drivers used by our host group contact had been hired out of Saudi Arabia, didn’t know the area and often got lost. We found ourselves having to help with directions and having them follow pins our advance person dropped to get to locations. We had our vehicles shadow the buses when the clients took the buses to the games.
The State Department OSAC group created a WhatsApp chat for all corporate entities to share information, road conditions, event statuses, real-time feeds to venues and daily threat levels. It was a big help because you could also reach out for assistance for issues that popped up and usually get it from other corporate or government entities.
Takeaways
The World Cup we experienced wasn’t as bad as we had anticipated logistically or operationally. However, the inability to get basic information without going up the chain of command up five levels made things slower and more difficult to get done, eating valuable time.
Every hotel, major office building, and major venue at the World Cup had security officers operating metal detectors, X-rays machines, and handheld wand-type metal detectors. Therefore, you had to plan each time you went into a venue with your client to speed up your entry with minimal items carried.
Alcohol consumption wasn’t as big of an issue as we thought it would be. Even though it was removed from the stadium concessions, hospitality and VIP/VVIP sections still had access to it.
Going to the World Cup was a fantastic experience. It also gave my team and me quite a bit of new experience with major venue security operations and secure logistics for our client. In addition, most people we encountered working the events and games were helpful, gracious, and friendly.
As 2022 comes to an end, I’ve made it a habit to reflect on the events of the past year that affect or may alter my professional career. As a physician working in the emergency room and a medical director in the executive protection industry, I look back at some of the trials and tribulations we’ve faced. In this article, I’ll discuss some unfortunate events and how they relate to the medical advance.
On one bright note, as the COVID-19 pandemic enters its fourth year, the era of pandemic restrictions is coming to an end, and we are starting to go back to a more normal life.
In my professional career in the EP industry, I’ve used this past year to discuss the need for more thorough medical training in our branche. In other words, I’ve:
Authored articles,
Received invitations to numerous podcasts,
Consulted with many corporations and private family offices, and
Had many thought-provoking conversations with industry leaders on the topic.
Sentinel Events
An event that stood out to me in 2022 was the assassination of Japan’s former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, on July 8. This sentinel event highlighted the need for more medical training, advanced medical providers, and a thorough medical advance in the EP industry.
Per the article published by Reuters’ Ju-min Park and Satoshi Sugiyama on July 18, “With Japan’s ex-PM Abe pale and lifeless, a doctor at the scene prayed for a miracle.”
Many have heard about the events of that day, but there are some concerns about the preparedness and initial medical treatment for the former prime minister. Although early proper medical treatment may not have changed the outcome of Mr. Abe’s demise due to the wound pattern, it would have at least given him a better chance at survival.
Most people have seen the video of the PM being gunned down. Still, many in the industry are unaware of the lack of medical preparedness and medical care provided by the protective security detail. Per the article, the former PM was shot and had chest and neck wounds with massive blood loss.
What Happened?
Firstly, no medical personnel was on hand. Thus, a local doctor in town and his nurse were summoned to provide medical care. Abe’s entourage handed them an AED. But when they went to use it, it didn’t turn on. So the doctor and nurse from the clinic were the first to perform CPR, which the protective detail hadn’t started.
Secondly, no ambulance was staged, and the ambulance that transported Shinzo Abe took 11 minutes to arrive on the scene. This caused an unnecessary delay in transport to a hospital that could have provided definitive care.
I hesitate to Monday-morning-quarterback these types of unfortunate events. Yet, there are a few learning points we can take away from this tragedy to better prepare us to prevent a similar tragedy.
In a nutshell, here are problems that should have been accounted for if an adequate medical advance had been done:
Absence of medical personnel on site for such a high-profile political figure, and
Lack of medical transport vehicles on standby.
Improving Services for the Future
I firmly believe that a medical advance should be done for any significant movement or travel with a client. It should be separate from but integrated with the typical security advance.
It can be very basic or detailed based on the type and location of movement or travel. I covered this in full in a previous article published on EP Wired. But listed is a synopsis of the three assessments that should be done in each medical advance:
Client medical assessment — patients’ medical problems.
Medical threat assessment — clients’ most likely medical condition or injury that will most likely occur.
Medical advance — assessment of medical needs and assets during travel.
In my opinion, every security personnel should have baseline training in BLS/CPR/AED and TECC or TCCC-type hemorrhage control with continuing education to keep their skillset up to par.
As security practitioners, we rarely — if ever — are tasked to perform medical care. Therefore, it’s imperative not to overlook continuing education after the initial training. In turn, this helps prevent the degradation of this perishable skill set.
Not all security personnel need to have advanced medical training. Nevertheless, there may be a select few in every organization that already have the training or are more adept and willing to undergo and maintain that training.
If you don’t have that personnel in your organization, there are many men and women who are former EMS, military, or law enforcement who have high-level medical training such as:
EMS medics,
SWAT medics,
Corpsman,
Pararescue,
18 Deltas, and
Other specialists who can be trained and integrated into security and EP teams.
Final Thoughts
As 2022 comes to an end, we as an industry need to ponder the teachings of the past. Additionally, we must integrate them into our training and personnel recruitment plan as we start the new year.
Looking to the future — and as the security industry becomes more adept at providing good trauma field care — we should also focus on delivering medical care for nontraumatic medical emergencies such as:
Asthma exacerbations,
Chest pain,
Abdominal pain, and
Shortness of breath.
Finally, I’ve witnessed an increased acceptance of integrating advanced medical into security details. In fact, I look forward to what the future holds for us as an industry.
Looking back over the last year (or two), the biggest obstacle was the impact of Covid. Not just in our industry — but the world. To that effect, let’s quickly review the security industry in 2022.
First was the impact of the medical effect or threat of transmission, which affected not just the principal but the protection team and all people they came into contact with. What became the norm was sanitizing:
Vehicles,
Corporate aircraft, and
Hotel and green rooms.
My uniformed guard company was drastically impacted as we provided security to around 300 events and concerts annually. In fact, from April 2020, one-third of my business stopped cold! The result was several million dollars in lost revenue.
At the same time, my parent company — which provides protection — was delivering services to numerous multi-billionaires. Yet, most of them went back home and, like so many executives, hunkered down and didn’t travel too much for a long time.
Once Covid was over, and things began to open back up, so many folks did not want to work! On the guard side, I was turning work down because I could not meet the demands with personnel. I went from 1,200 employees pre-Covid to 350 post-Covid. That’s one reason I decided to sell the guard business.
On the EP side of the security industry in 2022, we experienced the same phenomenon of finding it hard to recruit personnel. One thing that helped was upping the ante pay-wise. Therefore, billing rates increased, but it did not solve all the workforce shortages.
Covid Vaccines and Protocol Mandates
Following the Covid outbreak were some strict Covid protocols and mandated vaccines demanded by many clients. For example, my companies would not mandate that all employees were required to be vaccinated (even though, by law, we were required to mandate it, which was later rescinded). Still, certain clients required that our personnel had to be tested and vaccinated.
We respected our employees’ rights and freedom, but we also had to respect our clients’ wishes. Thus, we had to replace some personnel for some clients, especially the UHNW private families. And many will know how difficult that is!
For our TV and movie production clients — for who we provide set-and-talent security — we had not only to require vaccinated personnel. In fact, we needed to have personnel tested 24 hours before joining the production crew.
For those who know this business, almost everything is planned on the fly, and you operate on extremely short notice. This caused considerable scrambling to get people tested and staffed. Similarly, if someone tested positive, we had to find a suitable replacement.
What most production companies did was provide housing for the entire crew. However, that required finding personnel available to stay on location for long periods, including days when the team was not working. And if any crew member tested positive, all crew members would also have to be tested and be isolated for several days. As a result, billing was great, but turnover and recruitment were difficult, to say the least.
EP Training Impact: Security Industry in 2022
To illustrate the impact on the security industry in 2022, let’s look at what happened to EP training.
Of course, Covid impacted it in numerous ways, mostly from corporate travel restrictions. We have many corporate clients who send personnel to our EP training school. Still, due to travel restrictions placed on the corporate employee, many were not able to personally attend the in-person training.
For years before Covid, our school had been conducting online training is specific subject matter topics such as corporate aircraft security and disabled and elderly principals and family members as two examples. Thus, we were able to continue those programs and saw an increase in attendance.
And that’s another aspect of what has changed in the security industry in 2022. We modified our Protection Driving Program (PDP) by making it a hybrid program.
After the modifications, it included some online training and reduced in-person training. We took our standard 3-day PDP program and shortened it to four online 2-hour modules and two days at the track. In turn, this reduced the amount of time in the classroom and the in-person training from three days to two. Finally, this resulted in reduced time away and close proximity to others.
Like 9/11, we now live in a post-Covid world. As we put some distance from the initial impact, we are still feeling the effect that Covid left us with. Yet, we adapt, we overcome, and we continue forward. Life continues — and so does executive protection!
This is the second article in a two-part series on close protection skills I’m writing for EP Wired.
Justice
Stoic justice or treatment of others and yourself just means how we treat others despite their words or actions. So, as EP agents striving to keep our cool and patience and provide customer service, we must adopt this virtue as our own. Believe it or not, a true test of our soft skill implementation is our patience with clients, teammates, and threats.
This coincides with your verbal de-escalation as close protection skills. No matter who it is, a calm voice and language spoken without adversarial words can often help you achieve desired outcomes in social situations and interpersonal interactions.
Regardless of how you feel about someone, treating someone with respect and dignity often de-escalates the situation. Thus, they are more responsive to your requests, commands, or cooperation.
To do this, we must temper our ego and pride to always respond to adversarial people with a calm and controlled demeanor. Most often, folks who get in your face and yell are looking for escalation or an excuse to take something to the next level.
On Disrespect
Things will likely escalate if you don’t check your ego and pride. As a result, you now have a whole new set of professional, personal, legal, and tactical issues to contend with.
“But I won’t let someone disrespect me,” you might say. Well, my friend, if you accept it as disrespect, you certainly have been disrespected.
Memorize this quote by Marcus Aurelius and live by it: “Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.”
You have the choice in how you respond despite provocation.
In the words of Epictetus: “Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we do not respond impulsively to impressions. Take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.”
Injustice to Yourself
To improve your close protection skills, you must keep these quotes in mind when de-escalating adversarial behavior from a possible threat to your client, an agitated client, or a teammate who has been on duty too long and is losing his patience.
Finally, you must exercise justice for yourself. That means treating yourself kindly. Simply, de-escalating yourself and using your soft skills on you. If you are too hard on yourself about what you are doing, you will become agitated and provoke your own emotions. In turn, this clouds your judgment.
That’s how more mistakes happen. Remember, you are still human. You must shake it off, learn from it and carry on with the rest of the day.
Indeed, you should critique your performance at the end of the day in a philosophic way. But to criticize yourself while on duty is an injustice to yourself. Therefore, your client or teammate who has developed a baseline for your behavior will notice.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ― Viktor Frankl
Temperance (Moderation, Restraint)
As far as I am concerned, this is the highest of the four virtues. This virtue can be plugged in as a foundation for the other three virtues and very important in mastering your soft skills.
Ultimately, you must constantly maintain moderation and restraint in your:
Most importantly, you must use temperance with your emotions and restrain your impulses when on the job from negative environmental stimuli.
I think traffic is a great example, especially when you are with a client. For instance, someone cuts you off, and you are forced to break hard enough to elicit a comment from the client. We have all had comments that wanted to come out but had to bite down hard to keep our jobs.
The best way to moderate your emotions is constant self-regulation and self-monitoring, i.e., asking yourself:
What am I feeling right now?
Why am I feeling like this?
Is this feeling harmful or helpful right now?
You cannot allow your mind to wander. You must stay conscious and think to maintain an objective and rational situational awareness and self-awareness.
If you let your mind wander, it starts looking for things to chew on, especially personal issues at home or past experiences that may have been traumatic. The moment your mind begins to wander down some dark hole, it will stay with you all day, distracting you from your job.
Eating Well
Moderate your diet! Yes, you must be conscious of your calorie intake to physical exercise ratio. Not to mention you must be aware of how hunger affects your mood and judgment. We have all experienced long hours where we are not able to eat. So, it’s best to fast before a detail and cut your caloric intake.
Suppose you are used to 6,000 calories a day. But if you are only afforded 2,000 for a quick snack or bite, your body will be affected, you will slow down, become tired, your blood sugar will drop, and your mood will change. In essence, you will be rendered tactically ineffective.
Moderate your intake before a detail, and you will be just fine during the detail. Exercise moderation in all things. First and foremost, your emotions and your response to your feelings from external or internal stimuli.
“Don’t go on discussing what a good person should be. Just be one.” ― Marcus Aurelius
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.” ― Marcus Aurelius
The Lifelong Learner
In my opinion, a well-performed EP agent who wants to achieve higher soft skill expertise should be a student of philosophy. Especially if they want to be more effective so as to be seen as desirable by security firms. This is a necessity to improve your close protection skills!
Sure, putting it on your bio or resume that you are studying philosophy might be awkward. So, don’t tell them!
As Epictetus says: “For even sheep do not vomit up their grass and show to the shepherds how much they have eaten; but when they have internally digested the pasture, they produce externally wool and milk. Do you also show not your theorems to the uninstructed, but show the acts which come from their digestion.”
In other words, demonstrate your soft skills and philosophic wisdom through your actions.
I feel that one should love wisdom and be prudent in an effort to give clients the best results desired by them and expected of you by the security firm that holds the contract.
Stay Rational
An EP agent, who is a student of philosophy, could be more effective at soft close protection skills than someone who isn’t and could have higher emotional intelligence. As a result, they can use it to their advantage in handling possible threats and any adversity that comes their way.
An EP agent, however, must always remain rational above everyone they encounter. In turn, this helps them make rational decisions when everyone around them is in distress. I feel that my adoption of Stoicism has made me better at it than I used to be.
I expect few to agree with this view. But if this interests you or you want to know more, my door is always open. In fact, I am happy to set aside time for those seeking more info.
This is well beyond the thousand words I was given to work with and more in-depth than needed. But I feel it is pertinent to help show a different way of exercising soft close protection skills and mastering them.
Final Remarks
I’m not sure the community is ready for this type of thinking, but I’m glad to be able to introduce it, and looking forward to more opportunities to explain it more or help others who are interested.
Understand that this practice is a lifestyle for me. Thus, it goes beyond work and into my personal life to help make myself a better:
man,
husband,
friend, and
father.
And your adopting it as your philosophy can help you in your personal and professional life.
Finally, take this last quote with you as an instruction on how to be the best EP agent you can be.
“Concentrate every minute like a Roman — like a man — on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice. And on freeing yourself from all other distractions.
Yes, you can — if you do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life, and stop being aimless, stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you, stop being hypocritical, self-centered, irritable.
You see how few things you have to do to live a satisfying and reverent life? If you can manage this, that’s all even the gods can ask of you.” ― Marcus Aurelius
This was the second article in a two-part series on close protection skills I wrote for EP Wired. I hope you enjoyed it! If you missed the first piece, read it here.
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