Close Protection Officers (CPO) are specially trained, professional security officers that keep individuals safe from any potential threat, physical harm and/or other dangers to their personal safety or privacy. Close Protection Officers (CPO) provides expert physical security, deterrence of crime, pre-emption of crime, and discreet surveillance. Often assigned in high-risk law enforcement units such as FBI, military, and corrections, close protection officers serve in a variety of different capacities. Some patrol high profile malls, banks and even synagogues and religious buildings for the prevention of theft and other crimes. Some are employed by government agencies as CPOs for protection of public employees and public safety on the job.
Why Close Protection Officers and Their Tasks?
For close protection to be effective, an agent must be physically fit and able to withstand potentially dangerous physical situations. Merely being able to run fast and jump tall buildings is not enough. The agent must be skilled at advanced martial arts moves and be able to effectively shoot with lethal force. Additionally, CPOs must also be able to utilize weapons such as a gun or knife and use them effectively and quickly in dangerous or threatening situations. If a deadly weapon is not immediately available, a good detective or police officer is almost always an obvious choice since most criminals are thinking ahead about the consequences of violent actions. Unfortunately, there are many police officers who are too far away from the crime scene to effectively engage criminals or flee the scene of an active shooting.
Close protection officers perform a vital and important role in our society. They protect public safety by preventing the commission of crimes and apprehending criminals. Through diligent research they determine suspicious activities and obtain vital information that can be used in conjunction with traditional law enforcement methods to apprehend criminals. In addition to deterring criminal activity they also provide physical security by responding to and monitoring volatile situations. There are many perks that bodyguards receive when they are employed by a private company. These perks include health benefits, paid vacation time, paid relocation and insurance, as well as many others.