Bodyguarding/Close Protection Operations

Something I want to get into eventually is protecting people who are at risk who can't afford real body guard types.

So anyway, here's the bare bones of a reference page on the Oracle Project: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

At the moment the text on that page leans heavily on the Wikipedia article on bodyguards, but if you scroll all the way down to the bottom you'll find a link to a much more detailed military manual and a few other references.

If you have bodyguard/PSD experience, knowledge, training, etc, please jump in on the editing process.

My real life experience mainly consists of having been protected by a PSD, not doing the protecting...

In many places you need a license and formal training. You're in the military, you can find contacts and information on base with just a few questions.

Don't bother asking rlsh types. The fact this post went over a month unanswered shows you nobody has any real experience doing this. Though you can contact Superhero, as he DOES actually do personal security as a part-time gig.

I have training and real world experience defending people, equipment, installations, and convoy's from my time in the Air Force Security Police. What do you want to know?

At the moment I'd be satisfied to find some decent SOPs to review. However, if you want to directly apply your expertise to the subject, the Oracle Project is a wiki, so you could also sign up and edit the page directly.

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Silver... I'm not looking to sell professional security services at this point, but rather to do a little better at free stuff. My understanding is basically if you're not getting paid, then licensing requirements don't apply.

I understand that the RLSH are not the best knowledge base to turn to for many things, as well. I take responses with a grain of salt and consult other resources, too.

Instructing someone on personal security services is a bit different than offering advice on the latest gadgetry. You need a license to provide security and to train others to do security. I'd hate to offer medical advice if I weren't trained to do so in any capacity, and likewise those without proper credentials should not give advice or make dangerous assumptions about what works regarding personal protection services. So it's probably for the best that this thread has gone unanswered for so long.

Well...

Another way of looking at it is adapting some techniques to walk around in public with someone or appear in public with someone with...

ahem...

a greater awareness of safety.

I'm not trying to set up a professional certified security force tomorrow, anyway.

Nor am I soliciting advice for any other purpose than informational purposes only etc etc.

Maybe giving a for instance will make this seem less sketchy. In various places people have gone out to provide "security" for Occupy events. It seems to me a matter of common sense that the "security" provided would be better accomplished if it was informed more by knowledge from professionals.

However, nobody involved was purporting to be a professional security detail, taking money in exchange for services, making legal promises as to what responses would consist of, etc etc.

Also I think that if we find the task of providing amateur protection to a person or small group of persons so daunting/fraught with legal pitfalls that we can't even consider it... then that calls into question (in my mind) virtually every aspect of "crime-fighting" people aspire toward. Protecting a specific person is actually a task that's more controllable (IMO) than walking down the street randomly protecting whoever you feel needs it.

At the very least we can assume the "protectee" gave their consent, which is not necessarily true with random patrols.

You might consider calling the training authority in your state for the training materials that any other student would be privy to, or see if you can get them from someone who is licensed.

I'm not sure why this is such a sensitive issue. In the state of California it would be illegal for me to guard a street corner -- professionally -- without certification. I'm not talking about providing professional services here.

Here are a few resources that already exist online that I'm aware of:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (relevant chapters from a detailed military manual on police operations)

Let's say I have a friend who has a stalker. If I tell her "maybe you should take this route because it has fewer choke points" I would be doing something a bodyguard would do, but not professionally -- ergo, not violating CA law by pretending to be a certified bodyguard when I'm not one.

EON: I don't consider this a touchy subject, just offering one perspective. As far as getting the training materials, I simply figured it would have some good information and maybe answer some questions you may have. I understand you're not talking about charging anyone right now, and quite frankly I feel that most states' security training is severely lacking.

I'd suggest get licensing or work for a established licenced firm. if you go free-lance you will get some clients that you would rahter not have. in a lot of states and here in Canada you don't need to be licensed if your 'in house' security.

years ago I did this and thought it would be cool and good money. i did a celebrity's daughter and it was a nightmare of watching over cocaine parties and such. not pleasant so i quit.

another friend did some kind of gambler with similar results. a real firm or licence will get you real clients that you dont hagve to babysit or deal with because of 'unpleasant actions'.

So if a lady of the night anonymously asked you to bodyguard her for a night and you did, could you be busted for being a pimp? THAT is the question.

Not if you weren't acting as a pimp and had a signed contract that spells out what duties you will perform, and a set fee for your services.

thanatos wrote:

i did a celebrity's daughter

Than's a playa.

JohnDoe wrote:

So if a lady of the night anonymously asked you to bodyguard her for a night and you did, could you be busted for being a pimp? THAT is the question.

Eh... no. Protecting someone from getting hurt isn't illegal.

Contract or not -- as long as you aren't otherwise breaking the law somehow.

I have long thought that I should, especially since, being a woman,

I could be less obvious

but every one in this neighborhood

is FBI-level and so I just honor the work that they do

EON is correct that a contract isn't necessary, but business deals in writing are always best. Perhaps such a service is less formal however, but the service you provide should be spelled out in detail so they will know what to expect and have confidence that you will be able to protect them effectively. A good plan can instill confidence.

I agree if you're talking about a business deal. I don't see where in the context of the types of things we try to do where it has to be a business deal, though, actually.

Even when I do think about monetizing this -- and I do -- I try to avoid any scenario that involves charging the people who need help anything.

Actually what I've thought of most lately (aside from getting a job that helps people/fights crime and doing this in my offtime) is basically monetizing video resulting from RLSH-work as entertainment.

It's kind of like how porn stars aren't paid for sex (and therefore aren't prostitutes). They're paid to act in films.

So far any service I've provided anyone was either me just deciding to do it or arranged "handshake" style.

E0N wrote:

JohnDoe wrote:

So if a lady of the night anonymously asked you to bodyguard her for a night and you did, could you be busted for being a pimp? THAT is the question.

Eh... no. Protecting someone from getting hurt isn't illegal.

Contract or not -- as long as you aren't otherwise breaking the law somehow.

That's not what I meant. I mean that if, say, a prostitute was providing services and an undercover cop saw you watching over the deal could that be seen as facilitating an illegal action?

I think it's prudent of me to say "I'm not a lawyer, but..." first.

So I'm not a lawyer but.


No. You would need to actually be causing the woman to prostitute herself somehow, collecting money, etc, in order to be in trouble. The worst I can imagine is you might be guilty in some places of failing to report that you witnessed a minor crime... but trying to prove that would be so ridiculous and not in the cops' interest that...

...just no.

I mean think about it:

"What are you in for?"
"Not reporting a prostitute to the cops."
"...."

:/

Just checking.