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?
I am NOT a marriage counselor. I AM a Protection Specialist. No. 2 is the obviously the correct choice.
I would also pick number two, it is a proffessional response and very true, there is no reason that you should tell Mrs. Brown as you are there for protection, NOT as a source to find if Mr. Brown is unfaithful. And besides, your duty is to your prinicipal, ie, Mr. Brown.
So two.
i pick number 2 , it more proffessional.
Your duty is to your principal, if you cant keep secrets in this industry then you should look elsewhere. Operational security is paramount, if you don’t like it walk.
I also agree with the response of Lance and salute you Harlan for the courage to ask such a straight question.
Good question Harlan.
Good answer Lance.
Like it – thanks guys.
Harlan how funny you should ask that question in August this happend to one of my longest contracted clients. I lied and told the wife I had never seen him with another female, I believed I was doing what I was contracted to do, protect him physically and from public embarrasement. Not only did I lie to his wife but warned him that by some uncertain means I had discovered his wife was becoming curious and he needed to be on his P’s and Q’s. Incidentally I informed the principal that I could not have him escorted by any of my people if any questionable activities were going to occur. especially since it was also my job to protect his family and his activities complicated my ability to do this…….We still protect him today.
Happy holidays
Any answer be it true or false, implies a willingness to answer the question. The proper response is professional indignation, so as to make it clear that would be the last time such a question would be posed to you. “Mrs. Brown, This is a protection detail not marriage counselors, please do not ask us that again.”
By answering true or false, she can go back to him and say your response confirmed her suspicions. He can fire you for entertaining the question as a violation of trust or injecting yourself in his personal family affairs. Stay out of it.
We should observe an industry standard abhorrence to spying on our principal for their spouse or covering for the principal against the spouse. We will always lose that one.
ITS NOT MY JOB TO TALK ABOUT WHAT MY CLIENT YOUR HUSBAND DOES….ANY INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW U NEED TO DISCUSS IT WITH HIM….ALL I DO IS PROTECTION!!!!!!!!
Dang good questions Hucky. I think I would pick number 2
Mike (The Bull) Smith
I guess my take would be. No matter what your religious, family or personal values are, if you want to maintain potential for success in the field of executive protection, you must deny witnessing the adultery. Your loyalty is to your client. Secondly, you owe it to your boss to tell him the question was asked by his wife
Based upon the fact pattern presented, the short answer is “No, please excuse me while I get ready for my shift.” which is none of the above multiple choices. The closest to that answer though is #2. Picking up a woman and driving around with her in the back seat, or dropping the boss of at her place, could mean any number of things and you don’t have any way of knowing if that activity fell into the realm of what Mrs. Brown considers “unfaithful”. Nevertheless, your job is protection and not morality maintenance, and thus the appropriate response is probably to politely disengage and refer her back to her husband. “Slamming the door on her” though, might cause a long-term strain in your relationship with her, which could cause friction if you suddenly find yourself assigned to her detail next week…so I’d recommend that you temper your response with the appropriate respect and deference.
Happy holidays!!