Article by: William G.
For some brief moments in the past, my primary job was close in protection of at risk persons. A few would be recognizable, some there is information on if you knew the names, and others no one has probably ever heard of. The private sector is a strange one, and the job is not as glamorous as Mr. Costner made it out to be, though that is not to say it was not a splendid adventure. A lot of these things get offered out of the blue to gunslingers (people that have a reputation as being handy with a piece, or have known fighting abilities). Others are picked based off of appearance for a deterrent effect. Only in certain high stakes circles are “bodyguards” chosen based off of a specific criteria that does not meet the common perception of what a protector should be. Regardless of how one came to be tasked with such duties, the intelligent ones seek out additional training to equip them to better handle their assignment, in other words, the true professionals.
Over all this time since it first started, I have had the good fortune to attend some really specialized courses, and get some on the job training and mentorship by some really talented and devoted masters of the craft. Then, as things go, my life took other directions, and I simply went back to the more important job of only protecting my own loved ones. (That is a very good point to consider, even if you are not assigned to a special protection detail, some of the training can be applied to your personal life. Not all, but a good bit, and we could all use more really good training.)
Georgia Peace Officers are fortunate to have the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC). There is nothing like it that I am aware of outside of the federal or expensive private spheres. Now, there was a time that I would not attend GPSTC unless it was a specialized course, that did not involve firearms. The current head of that facility/agency changed that. He improved the curriculum, and brought in some very respectable talent, making it a place that was worth my time. (The dorms are still very far away from the St. Regis though, and that is a huge point of contention for me……)
GPSTC offers a class called Protective Security Operations that is a 5 day, 60 hour, crash course on protection work for the lawman. It is a hard course to get into, and there are some prerequisites. There are reasons for that, and they train some very serious units for a very serious job. I had not attended a course similar to this for 15-20 years, and earlier this year I took the course. They did a very good job with it, and it is well worth the time and effort to attend if you can get in.
A small part of the course involves firearms, since that is a small part of close in protection. One thing I saw, which I already knew, was most cops have zero clue what concealed carry is, or what is needed to be effective. Later I got a call from my friend (who’s questions/conversations have previously caused me to write articles) the Captain, now Major – congratulations, who is now tasked with overseeing a newly formed protection unit. Which now, finally (I know, I know) gets us to the point of this article. Below will be considerations for you on the law enforcement specific subset of “executive protection.” While many of the things I am about to speak can be applied to private sector, some are LE specific, so take that into consideration:
Firearms
Depending on your build a mid size gun (think Glock 19) is probably the more discrete option. That is not to say that a full size gun (think 1911 G-Model) is not viable, or that a subcompact (Sig P365) is not sometimes needed. The hardest part of the gun to conceal is the frame/“butt.” Shorter ones hide better in most holsters. The length of the slide comes into play when we carry outside the waistband. So a shorter slide may be beneficial.
While I do not wander about with a light on my concealed pistol most of the time, there are some times that I do. Close In Protection is one of the times I will sometimes carry a WML. You may have only one hand, as the other is holding onto or leading your charge, and you may very well have to fight your way out of a building or into a hardened area to bunker down. Once there, you may be in darkness, and need the light to identify friend or foe. It is much easier to do that with a WML than a hand held.
The debate on whether a pistol optic is required or not is circumstantial. While most gunplay has historically been close (since it is close in protection), the argument can be made that certain units will not have access to a CAT, QRF, sniper overwatch, or other special tools. So, in theory, the dot gives a force multiplier. Though it may be harder to acquire one handed under the duress of incoming rounds while you are trying to shield and herd someone who is actively trying to not be murdered. While it is fine for the keyboard commandos to cry out “more training!,” I would suggest you actually pressure test theory under controlled chaos. Yes, you need to train more. No, I am not saying don’t dot your gun. Just consider situations outside of the norm, and see what happens in honest training.
There are sometimes you may not be allowed to have a firearm while doing protection work. Yes, even as a sworn officer, you may find yourself having to lock up your gun. You may be allowed to have a knife, OC, or a baton. You may not be allowed that either. I would suggest learning about improvised weapons, which I will not go into, but you can find a staggering amount of information on with a little research. Also, “get tough” with some hard skills, better known as combatives or “kembatives” (IYKYK).
Holsters
In the private sector concealment tends to be of a higher priority. A good Inside the Waistband holster works well under a tailored suit. While some official protection units have discretion on their kit, others do not and are required to use an issued or approved holster. Worse yet, are those poor fellas that don’t know what they don’t know and are using some amazon or gun store special.
It is debatable as to whether or not a retention holster should be used in the LE protection world. On one hand, it seems like a good idea when you are in the middle of crowds with a high-profile, political dignitary. However, current retention holsters are often bulky, and hard to conceal. They can also cause a slower draw. Thumb breaks have gone the way of revolvers and are often looked down upon. The right ones still conceal better than some of the newer plain-clothes duty holsters, but thumb breaks have their own set of problems. They can be hard to secure one-handed when you re-holster, and they can seize up. I had one lock itself to the point I had to literally cut it off to get the gun out. Thankfully, that was at a training class and not on the street.
I personally still prefer an open-top, friction-fit holster, that is either inside the waistband or has adjustable passive retention. That may not work for everyone though. If you get to choose, look for good ones. Make sure you can holster one-handed. Make sure you can draw quickly from under a suit coat. Make sure it stays in the holster when you jump up and down, and run. Make sure it doesn’t stick out like a gun under a suit in a poor holster….. Think of this as well, if it does not retain the gun under semi-rigorous conditions, it can cause some problems. A mundane one might be snagging the frame on a chair or table as you sit down or get up, and the gun falls out. That will draw attention, which will embarrass your principal, which will probably get you put on night shift patrol, or worse.
You have to take a lot into account, as you are now in the same spotlight as the one you are charged with protecting. It isn’t just you that you have to worry about anymore.
Cover Garments
You may wear a variety of cover garments. Those are broken down into two kinds. The first is the open front, such as a suit coat, a windbreaker, maybe an open button-up shirt, and hopefully not a safari/photographer’s vest.
There are several things I have found that help with concealing a gun, and protecting an expensive suit coat. You can go to a tailor or seamstress and have them sew on a piece of moleskin or suede over the gun side and magazine side. You want both sides to even out and balance the jacket and also to protect the lining. This breaks up the outline and affords a smoother draw as well. Make sure it is not so stiff or thick that it impedes the draw, or makes the garment fit or look unnatural.
In the bottom corner of the suit coat, you can also have a stainless washer sewn inside. People use to recommend throwing a few loose rounds, or a heavier item in the pocket. That is problematic, especially if you forget about them, and try to go through security when you are not authorized to be armed. Think of the embarrassment and delays that would cause….. Lead fishing weights were recommended as well. They can discolor the suit when dry-cleaned, and cause other issues. So, it is best to sew in something that will not rust or leak, and will not cause too much of a problem under an x-ray machine. This added weight can help you clear the cover garment.
On windbreakers, or light jackets, you can cut a slit in the top collar, and run some thick-gauge, stiff weed-eater line to the bottom. This will not set off any metal detectors, and the rigidity the leading edge allows for a more sure-bladed swipe. It does not unnaturally alter the drape of the garment, and even helps to minimize it being swept open with light gusts of sudden wind.
For the lighter shirts, there is not much you can do, other than make sure they are of good quality, and be prepared to replace them on a more frequent basis. One thing that does help with closed front button-up shirts is leaving the bottom button unbuttoned. That allows for a more rapid draw. Just be ready for people to tell you your shirt is unbuttoned. You can remove the button completely, but be aware it may make the shirt stand out. Depends, and you have to check them on a case-by-case basis.
It may be rare that you wear a sweatshirt or hoodie while on the job, but you may, especially if you are working on the weekends, or during “down time” of the principal. Remember you will need to blend in as much as possible. While it is possible you may be identified as the hired gun, you want to have as much advantage as you can get. In cases you are wearing non-standard items such as a hoodie, cut out the drawstrings. Those things slow the draw, and have a nasty habit of snagging on the gun on the draw, and getting in the trigger guard when you re-holster.
Support Gear
The holster is only part of the equation. You need a sturdy belt that can support a gun, and spare mag at a minimum. Maybe you need to carry a knife, flashlight, multi tool, and cuffs on your belt too. Even if just a gun and a mag, get a good sturdy belt that doesn’t look like a gun belt. Milt Sparks, Mitch Rosen, Kramer, and Galco all make good gun belts that do not look like gun belts.
A multi tool can come in handy for a lot of things, and can get you out of some binds. It has served me well on my patrol duty belt, my SWAT rig, and in executive protection roles. If not a multi tool, at least have a decent Swiss Army knife with a handful of functions.
A handheld light is mandatory, and a keychain light is an added bonus for certain tasks.
Some type of medical, even if it is a compact snake staff systems TQ, and a military pressure bandage is required. I would highly recommend an ankle rig that has a TQ, quick clot, a chest seal, and gauze. Some people wear that kind of stuff on their belt. I cannot conceal it there, and find it uncomfortable. There are options to meet everyone’s needs. We have come a long way. One thing to consider is if there are children on the detail. In that instance, you may want to look at TQ’s that will fit smaller limbs.
You need some type of less lethal. ASP makes very discreet OC in the defender series. They also make a solid baton in the “Agent” series. I would recommend you not get the aluminum though, as I have hit a fair number of people with both aluminum and steel, and find much better results with steel. Smith and Wesson also has a nifty smaller baton that is affordable, but think of it as a single usage disposable item as opposed to the longer term, higher quality ASP model.
If you are not carrying metal cuffs, consider the small, single use cloth models. They are better than nothing, and can come in handy. The right ones are harder to get out of than you would think, and can be of multiple uses.
Small, compact spray hand sanitizer. You will thank me later.
A sturdy and reliable pen, rigid, and does not scream “tactical” or weapon, though that is exactly what it can be if used correctly. Remember, everything is a weapon if you hold it right. Carry a notepad with you as well.
Encrypted thumb drive. ID, documents, and special information. In case you lose your creds, cards, etc. Make sure it is encrypted, and you have the strong password memorized. Carry this on your person somewhere, even if it is in a special compartment in your shoe. Trust me on this one too.
So far this has all dealt with what is on your person. Often times you may work alone or with only a few other protectors. It would be beneficial to have a messenger bag or discreet case that has a better medical kit, water, small minor first aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, medication, spare ammo, a better knife, a spare and maybe more robust multi-tool, a spare light, extra batteries, charging cables, a battery pack, snacks, polysporin, aspirin, ibuprofen, cortezone cream, Lysol wipes, baby wipes, etc. in it. Spare socks and underwear at a minimum, if not some spare lightweight clothing. Things that people take for granted, but need more often than they think. You may not be able to get to the bag if all hell breaks loose, but you may. And if you get stranded somewhere, it will be invaluable. Take into account that you may not be able to fly commercial, or get into some areas with any of the “weapon” components, so keep those in a dedicated pocket to get rid of quickly if needed. Those socks can be loaded with the spare batteries if needed, and that compact vanity mirror can be wrapped in duct tape and affixed to a strategically folded magazine, or toothbrush, or…….
There is a lot to this thing, that is really a thinking man’s game. Everyone wants to be a big shot bodyguard until it is time to do Trooper stuff (that is an inside reference and joke). Like I harp on all the time, take a look at the big picture, game a lot of different situations. Get more training, practice more, and pressure test your training and ideas.
Some of the things I have talked about in this article may seem like a lot or overkill, and they may be until you need them. Yes, you can do more with less, and many have. The brain is the final weapon, but some things tend to make the job easier. Figure it out now, and not in front of the camera on the campaign trail, so you are not forever known as the one that cost the principal the election, and get sent to permanent foot patrol.
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