POLLYWOOD
PRIVATE SECURITY FOR THE A-LIST
THE BUSINESS OF PERSONAL PROTECTION Fueling a new industry in private security for Washington elites BY JOHN ARUNDEL
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hat may be the ultimate power symbol in Washington — an around-the-clock governmentprovided security detail — is trending toward the elites these days, with dozens of new private security firms cropping up, providing bodyguards, armored vehicles and enhanced home security systems to protect the most affluent, most powerful or most recognizable CEOs, technology tycoons, foreign dignitaries and celebrities visiting the nation’s capital. The increased importance of Washington, along with the gusher of federal spending and Jack Hickey with Haiti’s President Michel Martelly surge in visits by Hollywood stars, has fueled and Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall. the new industry, helping to spawn a gold rush of sorts for local private security firms, Hickey was guarding Ben Stiller on a Washington, many of which have filled their ranks with D.C. movie set and “the crowd grew from 20 retired Secret Service personnel, federal agents onlookers to 200 in minutes,” he recalls. “People and former law enforcement officers, or those were getting trampled. They wanted to touch trained at their academies. him or take a photo. But it got dangerous very Walk into any A-List dinner or reception fast, so we went to ‘Plan B.’ I remember grabbing these days, and you might see one by the door, his belt and taking him to a private elevator, and with an armored Suburban idling outside. out the back door where our car was waiting.” Northern Virginia-based Jack Hickey, founder “There’s always a back up plan to the back of Aegis Global, is just that person. Hickey’s up plan,” says Hickey, such as the time his team firm provides personal protection, residential was ambushed in South America protecting a security, witness protection, private investigations, political figure’s motorcade in the countryside. surveillance/counter surveillance, person locates, “Everyone got out safely, because we went to risk assessments, security drivers, special events Plan B,” he recalls. and workplace violence/hostile terminations. Guarding the royal families of Saudi Through the years he has protected the best of Arabia or the United Arab Emirates requires a them, from royal families to political figures like logistically different travel plan than being on former Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham set with stars like Angelina Jolie, whom Aegis Clinton and movie stars. Hickey crafts a security Global protected during the 2010 shooting of protocol unique to each client, doing the her movie “Salt.” “In this day and time, privacy necessary homework for any potential threats. for stars is a thing of the past, so we try to get The rising use of Twitter, Buzzfeed and them not to follow a routine,” he says. other social media to track the whereabouts of Hickey does not live by the idea of reflexive celebrities creates challenges, such as the time training; rather, he aims to be “proactive as
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opposed to reactive” to keep his clients safe. This personal motto kept Hillary Clinton safe from 2006 to 2008 when as the detail leader on her presidential campaign he encountered “credible threats” to her safety. “One man arrived at one of her campaign offices wearing what appeared to be a vest of explosives,” he recalled. “After a 10-hour stand-off the man surrendered, only for us to find he had road flares taped around his chest. That was an eye opener.” Business is booming at other area firms as well. “Nationwide there’s been a number of significant events which has created an increase in the overall demand for security,” says Shawn Scarlata, co-founder of Landover-based Blueline Security Systems, which recently added four new divisions. “I think social media has had a big part in raising awareness of security.” John Sexton of Sexton Executive Security, who runs a training academy for new agents, says his primary concern is preventing “work stoppages.” Many VIPs coming in from out of town or from overseas “just need us to help them get to and from meetings so they can take care of business. We provide security so people don’t interfere with them.” Sexton has a diverse clientele, including royalty and foreign heads of state. “Given the very powerful people coming here,Washington has to be a very security-minded city,” he says. “When clients contact us the night before, it does create challenges. But when security is executed properly, there are not too many crazy incidents.” Alyson Casey and Catherine Carlstedt contributed to this report.
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