Residents of Phoenix, Arizona are facing a frightening rise in crimes related to

Mexican drug cartels; last year there were 370 cases of kidnapping, and victims are both U.S. residents and illegal’s.

Mexico City is the only city with more kidnappings annually, with Phoenix running a close second-worst city in the world. If the ransoms are not paid quickly, the abductees are being murdered; their bodies brutally dismembered.

Local authorities believe “Washington, DC is too obsessed with al Qaeda terrorists to care about what is happening in their own backyard right now.” (ABC News)

From Texas to California, crimes and kidnappings related to the Mexican drug cartels are spreading further across the Mexican border into the U.S.

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BGC: This city is in dire straits and needs the help of qualified individuals to protect citizens and property. Without a doubt, much of the work will be dangerous and high-risk, but also rewarding; keeping the U.S. secure from this foreign criminal activity is just as important as protecting citizens from al Qaeda.

Individuals seeking employment may want to consider Phoenix, where the demand for protection is exceeding the supply of qualified individuals. Particularly, I imagine there is a need for individuals with solid EP background who speak Spanish and have either a Military or LEO background.

In the past I’ve said we must go where the work is; well, this is where it is right now.

Be safe and watch your back.

In January this year, London’s Princess Beatrice had her I Series BMW stolen from the West End area of the city.

The Princess, who is 20, went into a shop for a sandwich and unknowingly left her keys in the ignition and the doors of her luxury vehicle unlocked. Her bodyguard failed to notice the mistake, much to his chagrin.

The car was not recovered and no arrests were made, although the bodyguard is facing disciplinary action for his costly mistake.
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BGC: This is a perfect example of how we can become complacent in our duties, if we’re not careful! (SEE BGC STORY: “KEEPING YOUR EDGE“) A few thoughts on watching the young, rich, famous and busy-they can often be extremely preoccupied-and so it is particularly important to be on the watch for these kinds of oversights. Also, it is a good idea for a Bodyguard to have on his person copies of his client’s car keys, as well as residence keys. . . that way, if the client misplaces them or locks them in a car, you have a back-up set.

On Tuesday, January 20th in Washington D.C. there was a story reported regarding the singer Usher, who was in town with his wife Tameka Foster for the Presidential Inauguration. The New York Post newspaper printed a report from a source who claimed that Usher’s bodyguard was nasty to a little girl who asked Usher for an autograph. The story stated that Tameka laughed in the girl’s face and that the bodyguard was “meanly refused” on behalf of Usher. The story stated that after they left, “the little girl was crying.”

Well, it just so happens that I personally know the individual who works with Usher, and I called him and asked about it. He said the story was absolutely a fabrication and that the “source” didn’t get anything right about the situation. He said that Usher, his wife and he himself were all extremely polite and kind to the little girl, telling her “sorry, but this just is not a good time.” They were trying to get to an inauguration event and didn’t want to be late.

The general public doesn’t seem to understand that celebrities really do try to be as accommodating to them as possible, but sometimes they need to be somewhere, and cannot stop to chat or sign autographs. My buddy is a long-time bodyguard; seasoned, professional and possessing an extremely upbeat attitude. I cannot imagine that he would be nasty to a little girl; the absurdity of the story is what prompted me to call him.

Oh, and the individual who witnessed this “story” and no doubt reported it, was a member of the Paparazzi; you know, those people who hound celebrities LOOKING for anything that might be deemed “newsworthy.”

Mickey Brett, former bodyguard to Angelina Jolie, is writing a book about his days with the star, including details of the beginnings of her relationship with Brad Pitt. The book’s ghostwriter Robin McGibbon has commented “This is going to be a very revelatory book.” She doesn’t believe printing the truth will upset Jolie, since “she knows the truth,” according to a story in Grazia, a UK magazine.

Bodyguard Brett was employed by Jolie from 2000 to 2007 and was with her around the clock during that time. In gratitude of his service, not only was the bodyguard undoubtedly well-paid, but also was given gifts, including an Aston Martin car, worth approximately $200,000. Supposedly, the book is expected to not only address precisely when their relationship started, but also stories related to their private sex life.

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BGC: Yet another example of unprofessional behavior that reflects poorly on our business. Stories like this make me cringe. This so undermines the trust clients need to feel when hiring someone to protect them. The general public just doesn’t understand what it would be like to be a celebrity. These people don’t WANT to hire bodyguards; they have no choice. Can you imagine how YOU would feel if you had to have someone shadowing you 24/7?

Can you imagine how it would feel to have to spend anywhere from $50K and up on a salary for protection, only to have that individual turn around and disregard protecting your personal life by writing a book? This man was with her for 7 years. This betrayal is appalling, and his career as a bodyguard is over. I suppose he thinks this book will see him through retirement. I won’t be purchasing a book because that would mean I support his despicable behavior.

On Wednesday,November 19th 2008, Musician John Mayer’s bodyguard crossed a line. Mayer was enjoying a night out on the town in Hollywood, dining at The Steakhouse, one of Wolfgang Puck’s Beverly Hills eateries, when he decided to leave from the front entrance of the restaurant,rather than the planned exit out of the back of the establishment. Mayer and his bodyguard walked into a throng of paparazzi, all eager to snap pictures. Just as Mayer was ducking into his BMW, one photog was over-eager and Mayer’s bodyguard pushed him to the ground, grabbing him by the throat according to onlookers. The photographer went to the Tarzana hospital to be checked for injuries, and is reportedly planning to contact his lawyers.

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Here’s another story to file under: What Were They Thinking?!

First of all, both Mayer and the bodyguard need to be held accountable.

Physical contact and altercations like this should not be happening, and a well-trained bodyguard knows better than to shove, and then worse, to grab an individual by the throat, once he’s down!? These moves are aggressive and out of control. Why anybody would think this physical maneuver was acceptable is beyond me–and to make such an error in judgment in front of a crowd of paparazzi and fans? It just make Mayer look bad, and most certainly opens him up to a lawsuit.

Secondly, my guess is Mayer’s bodyguard was not prepared for Mayer’s sudden change in plans to leave The Steakhouse via the front entrance.

Surely, Mayer had to have known that leaving from the most public access point was fool-hardy and maybe just a little self-involved…or perhaps he was in some way impaired in his decision-making ability. It begs the question, “Did he WANT the attention?” Surely, his bodyguard advised him against exiting from the front of the restaurant. Well, if there is indeed a lawsuit, then I suspect the cost of that “attention” will be significantly more than he intended to pay.