Should you lie to protect your client?
By: James A. DeVino
QUESTION:
In the area of protection, the word integrity equates to loyalty to your principal. In other words, integrity does not necessarily mean honesty, truth, or the American way. Of course, as you conduct your duties, or in the event that an incident occurs that brings you into contact with and are questioned by law enforcement authorities, you must always be honest when queried. Should you fail to answer law enforcement’s questions truthfully, you could be charged with a crime, thus prohibiting you from continued work in your chosen field.
From the perspective of the private life of your principal, he or she is entitled to complete and absolute confidentiality. Thus: “You are protecting a celebrity principal, and in the course of an evening out on the town, your boss tells you to take him to an address that belongs to a young woman who has joined him in the back seat of the limo. The next two hours later the detail heads for the principal’s home and the interim shift takes over. You report for duty as usual around noon and the principal’s spouse asks you a direct question: “Last night, when you were protecting my husband, did you see him with another woman? Has he cheated on me?”
1. Mrs. Brown, I would not be able to tell you if even if I knew.
2. Mrs. Brown, that is a question you should ask your husband, not me. His marital or extra marital activities is not my concern. I am paid to protect him.
3. Mrs. Brown, I have never seen your husband involved with another woman.
4. Mrs. Brown, I wish you had not asked me that question. I have to be honest and tell you he has been unfaithful many times.
What is your answer?
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