Protective Operations

xvii

INTRODUCTION

If anything, overestimate the opposition. Certainly never under-

estimate it. But do not let that lead to nervousness or lack of con-

dence. Don’t get rattled, and know that with hard work, calmness,

and by never irrevocably compromising yourself, you can always,

always best them.

Allen Dulles

Director, CIA (1953–1961)

In researching over 1000 targeted attacks that have occurred over the past

60 years, I found that in only 305 of the attacks was a protective detail of

some conguration present.

1

In the vast majority of those, the protective

detail was constituted by police ofcers. During that same time period, 87

police ofcers have been specically targeted by hostile organizations. All

told, of the 1000-plus attacks, the adversary was successful over 81 percent

of the time (the victim was killed and/or kidnapped).

Throughout the history of law enforcement, police ofcers have often

been called upon to provide protective services for individuals believed

to be in danger of physical harm. Most often this service has been pro-

vided to the victims and witnesses involved in criminal cases, but more

and more often it includes mayors, local elected ofcials, prosecutors, and

judges. For a large number of protective operations, this level of training

and experience has and will continue to sufce, as many of those that seek

to kill or harm another will not attempt to take on a police ofcer, let alone

several. However, in those cases where the adversary is dedicated, the

presence of police ofcers may not be enough, as has been witnessed most

recently in Mexico. In these types of attack scenarios, the level of training

of the average ofcer will be far from sufcient.

Unlike protective operations normally conducted by the U.S. Secret

Service and the Department of State or even corporate security organizations,

law enforcement agencies at the county and municipal level are often tasked

to provide protection to a wide variety of individuals. These individuals can

range from witnesses, informants, and victims, to their own ofce leaders

and staff, even local government representatives. Regardless of the protectee

or the nature of the threat, law enforcement ofcers, as is the norm for the

profession, are expected to rise to the occasion and handle the problem.