A lone cameraman approached Kiefer and his bodyguard as they walked down a busy street. Good restraint shown by BG, but I did find one error in judgment. For the sake of discussion I am interested in hearing your thoughts see video: Kiefer and his bodyguard
Well, you all have great Arm Chair Quarterback perspectives. I happen to know this “PRO”… he has protected me.
While some things could have been different, if any of you are pros, then you know that “unless you were actually THERE,” you really have no idea what the full story looks like… and you also know that ‘video’ doesn’t tell all. The primary is still in charge, and you don’t know what kind of instruction he was given prior to this ‘going down.’
Of course, you’d actually have to have done some real work to understand that. In the past few months, this “Knuckle dragger” (as someone has referred to him) worked the Grammy’s,the Oscars, the CMA’s and protected a couple of my high profile friends, etc.
Look him up online, and you’ll see his presence everywhere. So, for someone who you are all calling stupid, and knuckle dragging, and a huge mistake maker… he sure as hell works a lot.
So, he must do something the client’s like. I know I trust him!! And, at the end of the day, that is what matters.
If none of you have made a mistake in the past, then you haven’t worked much. Cut the guy some slack. I can also tell that none of you are former military, and if so, you have never been in combat.
Not everything goes the way you hope, or the way you want, or the way you plan, and sometimes things go wrong. The primary in question here has continued to use this professional’s services, so what does that tell you?
Get a job, get some experience, talk to me about a ‘battlefield situation where everything went the way you planned,’… anyone with real experience would be a little more forgiving, having the actual experience enough to know that things aren’t always what they seem, and, even when mistakes are made, a “true professional” (as some of you have dropped the term) would be more empathetic and understanding (even in evaluating a mistake).
So, you guys keep writing… and wishing… and hoping… and my EP will just keep on WORKING and getting paid to protect high profile clients. You guys can stand around and watch, and talk about how much better you could have done it. He will cash his checks.
How about… “SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR YOUR OWN.” (even if a mistake was made). That’s what pros do.
Wow.
He shouldn’t have stopped. He should have spoken more assertively, and loudly. Paparazzi is easily embarassed by the “NO”!!!!!, “MOVE BACK IMMEDIATELY” yell. It works ninety percent of the time. In my opinion, this man was not a bodyguard, he was just a friend who was taking on the position at that time. Mr. S should talk to him about doing so, because him stopping, caused more of a stink than them walking by a jerk with a camera, who would only follow for a few minutes, maximum. There are things to take in account.
1. The person with the camera may not have been alone.
2. The person who is portrayed as the bodyguard may just be a good friend.
3. This person obviously has no training.
4. We don’t know if the person with the camera had approached, or followed perviously, and/or verbally heckled Mr. S.
5. The location is unknown, as Mr. S could have been on a personal mission, and made the statement to his companion that he was upset at the cameraman causing his friend to react in a certain manor.
And there are so many more things that we could say are wrong. The truth of the matter is, he lost sight of Mr. S. If you notice, during the conversation with the cameraman, he quickly glanced to visually identify where Mr S. continued to walk off to. My thought about this situation
Last but not least, if your primary wants to live, your primary should learn to never walk off, and only run if there is a life and death situation. They should remain with you, as they are your eyes as well.
This was truley an incredible protective faux pas Ive been in the same postion with my clientes regarding the paparazzi and to watch someone do exactly the opposite of what we do is concerning.Too much talk ,too much time, too much distance
you guys take checks?!!
It is obvious this individual is not a Protection Specialist. You never leave your client Protection 101. It really hurt my feelings we have such people who have no idea how to protect a client and they are receiving pay for their mistakes.
I give $15.00 to have this person trained Ha! Ha!
David Camden
I haven’t been in protection for a few years now, but I did several years with mostly musicians. On a relatively uncrowded street, why not just smile and say, “Not right now, thank you,” place your body between the subject and the principle and KEEP MOVING? Too many problems are created by allowing an engagement, which will lead to a confrontation, which will lead to principle attracting way too much attention to himself. The problem is two-fold: the principle wants the attention and the agent has an ego. Either spells trouble.
I watched the video and did so just like others before reading the comments, I picked up on about everything you all did. Wow, I might actually look into this as a career.. I never realized that when I escorted friends from clubs, drunk, prior to or after fights (get them out safely before police arrive), I was acting as EP not a Bodyguard!! I have had girl friends, who would call me later in the night after they had been drinking, to come and hang out with them and take them home after they were done. I asked one why and she told me it was because she knew I would never let her leave with a somebody she shouldn’t, let her drive, and that I would get her home, tuck her in (no sex ever), and leave her safely in her home.
That’s not to say I didn’t have a few nights with a few friends, who had aquired new “Friends” who thought the girls should go home with them… Thanks for the insight into a new career!
This guy is exactly the type of “Knuckle-Dragger” that has made it so difficult for the pay scale in our industry to advance to where it should be. He is nearly the perfect personification of a “Bodyguard”. Sadly, choosing this kind of untrained personnel is very common within entertainment as well as professional sports details. I also see quite a bit of off duty and retired police officers being used in corporate and individual executive security. This has it’s own list of possible pifalls. As far as Mr. Southerland’s security…For all intents and purposes, he has none. This guy is is likely to get him hurt or sued. The camera man was actually very polite and quite calm. The BG should have said maybe 3 words to him, if any. The BG engaged the camera man verbally as well as physically and while doing so turned his back on his client and lost continuous visual. He did nothing correctly and for thirty seconds, doubled his client’s threat level. Not only are we responsible for the physical safety of our client but it is also important to remember that we must safeguard their image and reputations. Sorry for the rant. This frustrates me.
There is a clear difference between bodyguards and executive protection agents. This guy might make a great bullet magnet should a potential attacker need some deterrence. However, what Mr. Sutherland needed was a professional with some public relations training. Not just the ability to fight but to think. Training can improve reaction but not intelligence. No donation here.
I can throw in 10, and even a few places to go for training.
I am new to the industry, but have worked Protective Service Details in the past while in the military.
I would have to agree with the others in their statements. You should always consider having a designated Bodyguard, but in situations where it doesn’t always allow for it, the bodyguard should keep calm, and alert to anything that may pose a viable threat or potentially embarrassing.
You do not always have the luxury of having several guys with you, but in situations where you can, then you can easily pass him off to another guy to deal with.
Stay with the client, keep him/her safe, and remain alert to your surroundings.
Besides, how much more embarrassing would it have been to have lost the client because he/she decided to go into a store to shop while you weren’t looking, and now you are having to look for the person that you were meant to protect?
PS:Never threaten a photographer that makes it personal.
I thought the bodyguard handled himself professionally up to a point.
First of all I thought he engaged the cameraman way too long. Secondly he broke the cardinal rule and lost track of the package(for all we know that camera guy could have been an distraction and they could have had an AOP)! Thirdly the camera guy became very aggressive and would not relent and listen to the bodyguard, automatically the threat level would have risen for me. It would have been great to have had another operative standing by to evacuate the principal also that bodyguard could have done just that, because that would have stopped any further unwanted altercations.
Where to begin; I had not read any of the comments that where left until having watched the video; point one: Where was the Primary? second: I have seen Kiefer’s staff before at VGA awards never saw this guy there (was he temp?) 3rd: First rule of protection stay “CALM” no matter what; never take a situation for granted; I am wondering where the rest of the detail was?
Case in Point!
My primary was Arche Bishop Don Magic Juan; at “Magic” vegas last year; I had two of his guys as back up (making point for guys like this) Primary was trans. to Skin at the Palms while in a crowed of thousands; we where standing next to Jay Z and Russell Simons; a thug jumped over Jay Z and struck him square in the face; Jay Z detail never responded I mean did not even move from there posts; needless to say a “Riot” broke out; I had my primary out of the club and to the limo stand before Casino Security even showed up; just goes to show that celebrities do not make smart choices when choosing their details;
Well, I have been in the Protection business for 10 years now and I have never seen such a laps in judgement. I counted about 34 seconds of diolouge with the subject. The twin towers took 12 seconds each to fall to the ground. Just think about how many blocks away Mr. Sutherland could have been if abducted, better yet, it takes less than a second to pull a trigger……Definatly a great, “WHAT NOT TO DO” in this situation….Im in for $5 also..
Thanks Hucky!
Charles and David are right on spot with their comments. One thing that people who are seeking to join the Executive Protection field should know is, your job is not to engage or attack paparazzi, it is to evacuate your principal from the danger zone. David I’m good for $10.00 lol…
so many things are wrong with this situation… i could write a book!
Charles is correct… but there is so much more…
You do NOT leave your client because of some punk kid with a camera wants film.
Case and point – anyone see “Celebrities Uncensored” series on E! – there was a clip on the show where Van Damme breaks a video camera from a paparazzi… it was me who dragged van damme down the street because HE was in the wrong, i didnt waste my time with the paparazzi as I knew they were on public property DOING THEIR JOB – yes, their job… i may not agree with what they do for a living, but as long as they are following the law, there is nothing i can do to them, and sometimes i must protect my client by protecting them for themselves!
You should not even have to get into a conversation with the camera man… if the principle wants to walk down a public street in the first place, then he knows open video and photographer are allowed and legal. The bodyguard should have known that and left the camera man alone, unless he posed a threat or an impedence to forward progress.
The bodyguard took this PERSONAL… are you kidding me??? I take THAT personal… you should never and I me never take anything someone says about you the bodyguard personal unless it is a direct threat or implied attack… the fact he wants video, is nothing of the sort.
It is obvious this bodyguard is a just a thug without any professionalism whatsoever and he should be thankful he even has a job…
and we all wonder why bodyguards get “stereotyped” – a big thanks Mr. Sutherland’s “bodyguard” for uphold the stereotype…
Unbelievable.
BTW – im starting a fund to get this guy some training… I start with $5.00 anyone else?
Concerning Kiefer\’s Bodyguard. First of all he engaged in a conversation with the cameraman to long, plus he took his attention away from his protectee. He should have kept moving with delayed steps as to keep his eye on the cameraman and his protectee. Not stand there an hold a conversation. This could have been a set-up or a decoy for someone else to get to Kiefer.